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31
CM
PA T
echn
ical
Rep
ort S
erie
s
Floral Biodiversity Surveys for Baseline Assessment at
Khijadiya Wildlife Sanctuaryand Gosabara Wetland
Complex in Gujarat
August 2016
Indo-German Biodiversity ProgrammeConservation and Sustainable Management of Coastal and Marine Protected Areas
GEER Foundation
CMPA Technical Report Series No. 31Floral Biodiversity Surveys for Baseline Assessment at Khijadiya Wildlife Sanctu-ary and Gosabara Wetland Complex in Gujarat
AuthorDr. Padamnabhi S. Nagar, M.S.University-Baroda
Published byDeutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbHIndo-German Biodiversity Programme (IGBP),GIZ-India, A-2/18, Safdarjung Enclave,New Delhi - 110029, IndiaE-Mail: [email protected]: www.giz.de
2016
ResponsibleDirector, Indo-German Biodiversity Programme
Photo CreditDr. Neeraj Khera
LayoutAspire Design, Delhi
DisclaimerThe views expressed in this document are solely those of the authors and may not in anycircumstances be regarded as stating an official position of the Ministry of Environment,Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India, of the German FederalMinistry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB)or the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. Thedesignation of geographical entities and presentation of material in this document donot imply the expression or opinion whatsoever on the part of MoEFCC, BMUB or GIZconcerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or ofits authorities or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Referenceherein to any specific organisation, consulting firm, service provider or process followeddoes not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation or favouringby MoEFCC, BMUB or GIZ.
CitationPadmanabhi Nagar. 2016. Floral Biodiversity Surveys for Baseline Assessment at Khijadiya Wildlife Sanctuary and Gosabara Wetland Complex in Gujarat. CMPA Technical Series No. 31. Indo-German Biodiversity Programme, GIZ-India, New Delhi. Pp 116.
Floral Biodiversity Surveys for Baseline Assessment at Khijadiya Wildlife
Sanctuary and Gosabara WetlandComplex in Gujarat
CMPA Technical Report Series
Indo-German Biodiversity Programme Conservation and Sustainable Management of Coastal and Marine Protected Areas
31
August 2016
AuthorDr. Padamnabhi S. Nagar, M.S.University-Baroda
vii
Disclaimer
This study has been financed through a contract with the
Project on “Conservation and Sustainable Management of
Existing and Potential Coastal and Marine Protected Areas”
(CMPA), of the Indo-German Biodiversity Programme. The
Project is jointly implemented by the Ministry of Environment,
Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of
India, and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale
Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal
Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building
and Nuclear Safety (BMUB).
The information presented and the views expressed in this
information product are those of the author(s) and do not
necessarily reflect the views of the German Federal Ministry
for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and
Nuclear Safety, nor of the Ministry of Environment, Forests
and Climate Change, or the Deutsche Gesellschaft für
Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH.
The designations employed and the presentation of material in
this information product do not imply the expression of any
opinion whatsoever on the part of MoEF&CC, BMUB, or GIZ
concerning the legal or development status of any country,
territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the
delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The mention of
specific organisations, companies or products of manufacturers,
does not imply that these have been endorsed or recommended
by MoEF&CC, BMUB, or GIZ in preference to others of a
similar nature that are not mentioned.
viii
RESEARCH TEAM
Consultant
Padamnabhi Shanker Nagar
Reseach Scholars
Mital R. Bhatt
Karan G. Rana
Ajit M. Vasava
ix
Acknowledgement
We wish to acknowledge our sincere gratitude and appreciation to:
Prof. Sandhya Kiran Grage, The Head, Department of Botany, The
Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda for providing necessary
laboratory facilities.
Dr. Dharmendra G. Shah and Dr. Shristuti Tatu for GIS mapping
and sharing knowledge regarding Mangrooves found in study area.
Dr. Rinku Desai for authentication of grasses and sedges collected
and identified from study area.
Dr. Nilesh Joshi, Marine Algae Dept., Fisheries Research Station,
Junagadh Agriculture. University, for water analysis and
phytoplankton diversity studied in study area.
The Principal Investigator is highly thankful to Dr. A. P. Singh
(CCF wildlife, Junagadh) and Shri Shyamal Tikadar (CCF,
Jamnagar) for their kind cooperation and suggestions throughout
the project.
Ms. Shorbita Agrawal (DCF) for providing facilities to survey in
Mokarsagar wetland, Porbandar.
Shri Jadeja and shri Odedra (RFO) for providing facilities to survey
in Mokarsagar wetland, Porbandar.
Shri Chapla (RFO) for providing facilities to survey in Khijadiya
wetland, Jamnagar.
We are grateful to all Tribals, Rabaris of Gujarat who shared with us
the 'nature of mother nature'.
Though, this appears to be an exhaustive list, we feel it to be much
deficient. Therefore, we thank all those whose names might not
have appeared here but of course, their cooperation and
contributions made this work possible.
x
Table of Contents
S.N. Content Page No.
1. INTRODUCTION 1-4
1.1 Wetland Status of India 2
1.2 Wetland Status of Gujarat 2
1.3 Study area 3
1.3.1 Mokarsagar wetland Complex 3
1.3.2 Khijadiya Wetland 3
2. OBJECTIVES 5
3. METHODOLODY 6 - 10
3.1 Ecological Assessment 6
3.1.1 Diversity Survey 6-7
3.1.2 Phytosociology 8
3.1.3 GIS Mapping 9
3.1.4 Biochemical Parameters of Soil 9
3.1.5 Biochemical Parameters of water 9
3.2 Threat assessment 10
3.3 Economically Important species 10
3.4 Threatened species and their conservation significance 10
3.5 Documentation of Local and English name 10
4 RESULTS 11
4.1 Ecological Assessment 11
4.1.1 Diversity Survey 11 - 29
4.1.1.1 Gosabara 11 - 22
4.1.1.2 Khijadiya 23 - 29
4.1.2 Phytosociology 30 - 33
4.1.2.1 Phytosociological analysis of Gosabara 30 – 31
4.1.2.2 Phytosociological analysis of Khijadiya 31 - 33
4.1.3 GIS Mapping 34 - 53
4.1.3.1 Gosabara 34 - 48
4.1.3.2 Khijadiya 49 - 53
4.1.4 Biochemical Parameters of Soil 54 - 56
xi
S.N. Content Page No.
4.1.4.1 Gosabara 54 - 55
4.1.4.2 Khijadiya 55 - 56
4.1.5 Biochemical Parameters of water 57 - 59
4.1.5.1 Gosabara 57 - 58
4.1.5.2 Khijadiya 58 - 59
4.2 Threat assessment 59 - 63
4.3 Economically Important species 64 - 76
4.4 Threatened species and their conservation significance 77 - 83
4.5 Invasive species 83 - 86
4.6 Documentation of Local and English name 86 - 92
4.7 Key species Interaction and their Ecological Significance 92 - 94
5 REFERENCES 95 - 98
List of Tables
S.N. List of Tables Page No.
1. Floristic Diversity of Gosabara 12 - 21
2. Agricultural crops of Gosabara 21 - 22
3. Floristic Diversity of Khijadiya 24 - 29
4. Phytosociological Analysis of Gosabara 31
5. Phytosociological Analysis of Khijadiya 33
6. Soil analysis of Gosabara 55
7. Soil analysis of Khijadiya 56
8. Water analysis of Gosabara 58
9. Water analysis of Khijadiya 58
10. Species of Economic Importance 65 - 68
11. IUCN status of the species 77 - 83
12. English and Local names of the species 86 - 92
xii
List of Figures
S.N. List of Figure Page No.
1. Average area under different wetlands, india 2
2. Habitat Classification of Gosabara 6
3. Habitat Classification of Khijadiya 7
4. Graph showing species diversity at Gosabara wetland complex 11
5. Graph showing species diversity at Khijadiya Sanctuary 23
6. Change in Sub-habitats during Post-monsoon and Summer in
Gosabara
34
7. Change in Sub-habitats during Post-monsoon and summer in
Khijadiya
49
List of Plates
S.N. List of Plates Page No.
1. Purple Moorhen feeding upon Schoenoplectus tubers 69
2. Birds feeding on Aeluropus logopoides 70
3. Prosopis for Baya weaver‟s nesting 70
4. Prosopis providing shelter to the Birds 71
5. Prosopis providing shelter to the Birds 72
6. Prosopis removal from Khijadiya Sanctuary 84
7. Eichhornia invasion in Gosabara 85
8. Dry puddle species of Khijadiya wetland 99
9. Mangrooves of Khijadiya 100
10. Saline ground Species 101
11. Floating Aqautic Plants 61
12. Climbers 62
13. Partially Submerged Plants 63
xiii
List of Maps
S.N. List of Maps Page No.
1. Mokarsagar wetland map showing all surrounding villages 3
2. Khijadiya Sanctuary map showing all surrounding villages 4
3. GIS Map of Gosabara (07/11/2015) 35
4. GIS Map of Gosabara (15/04/2016) 36
5. GIS Map of Khijadiya (07/11/2015) 50
6. GIS Map of Khijadiya (15/04/2016) 51
1
1 INTRODUCTION
Wetlands are the area where saturation with water is dominant factor determining the
nature of soil and the types of plants and animal communities living upon it. They are
amongst the most productive ecosystems on the Earth (Ghermandi et al., 2008), and provide
many important services to human society (Ten Brink et al., 2012). However, they are also
ecologically sensitive and adaptive systems (Turner et al., 2000). Wetlands exhibit enormous
diversity according to their genesis, geographical location, water regime and chemistry,
dominant species, and soil and sediment characteristics (Space Applications Centre, 2011).
They cover diverse and heterogeneous assemblage of habitats such as lakes (Jheels), ponds,
rivers, river flood plains, inter-tidal areas, estuaries, mangrooves, coral reefs and other related
ecosystems.The prolonged presence of water creates conditions that favor the growth of
specially adapted plants and promote the development of characteristic wetland (hydric) soils.
Wetlands were categorised into marine (coastal wetlands), estuarine (including deltas,
tidal marshes, and mangroove swamps), lacustarine (lakes), riverine (along rivers and
streams), and palustarine („marshy‟ – marshes, swamps and bogs) based on their
hydrological, ecological and geological characteristics (devised by Cowardin et al., 1979).
However, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, which is an internationaltreaty signed in 1971 for
the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources, defines wetlands (Article 1.1)
as “areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or
temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of
marine water the depth of which atlow tide does not exceed six metres”. Overall, 1052 sites
in Europe; 289 sites in Asia; 359 sites in Africa; 175 sites in South America; 211 sites in
North America; and 79 sites in Oceania region have been identified as Ramsar sites or
wetlands of International importance (Ramsar Secretariat, 2013).
As per the Ramsar Convention definition most of the natural water bodies (such as
rivers, lakes, coastal lagoons, mangrooves, peat land, coral reefs) and man made wetlands
(such as ponds, farm ponds, irrigated fields, sacred groves, salt pans, reservoirs, gravel pits,
sewage farms and canals) in India constitute the wetland ecosystem. Only 26 of these
numerous wetlands have been designated as Ramsar Sites (Ramsar, 2013). However, many
other wetlands which perform potentially valuable functions are continued to be ignored in
the policy process. As a result many freshwater wetlands ecosystems are threatened and many
FLORAL BIODIVERSITY SURVEYS FOR BASELINE ASSESSMENT AT TWO WETLANDS IN GUJARAT
2
are already degraded and lost due to urbanization, population growth, and increased
economic activities (Central Pollution Control Board, 2008).
1.1Wetland Status of India
National Wetland Atlas 2011, prepared by SAC, is the latest inventory on Indian
wetlands. Entire Country was considered for assessment and a total of 201,503 wetlands were
identified. India has about 757.06 thousand wetlands with a total wetland area4 of 15.3 m ha,
accounting for nearly 4.7% of the total geographical area of the country. Out of this, area
under inland wetlands accounts for 69%, coastal wetlands 27%, and other wetlands (smaller
than 2.25 ha) 4% (SAC, 2011). In terms of average area under each type of wetland 5 natural
coastal wetlands have the largest area (Fig.1).
Figure 1: Average area under different wetlands, India.
1.2 Wetland status of Gujarat
Gujarat has the highest proportion (22.8%) of the total wetland area in the country.
The extent of watery-lands in Gujarat is about 34,350 sq. km (17.6% of the state‟s
geographical area and 22.9 % of the national wetlands). About one fourth of the India‟s
wetlands are in Gujarat which includes Jheels (lakes), Talav (ponds), dams, seasonal
waterbodies, paddy fields, streams, marsh lands, coastline, mangrooves, coral reefs, estuaries
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
Natural coastal Natural inland Man-made Man-made Wetlands
Are
a i
n h
ecta
res
per
wet
lan
d
Wetland categories
Average weland area in hectares
FLORAL BIODIVERSITY SURVEYS FOR BASELINE ASSESSMENT AT TWO WETLANDS IN GUJARAT
3
and large stretches of mudflats etc. contribute significantly to enrich habitat diversity,
resulting in rich wetland biota.
1.3. Study Area
1.3.1 Mokarsagar wetland Complex
Mokarsagar Wetland Complex, located in the Porbandar district of Gujarat state is
spread over around 129 square km. It lies between 21°38'49.17"N and 69°35'25.95"N to
21°29'51.11"N and 69°47'21.19"N.Mokarsagar is a name given to group of several wetlands
situated in around villages like Kuchhadi, Zavar, Chhaya, Odedar, Ratanpar, Vanana,
Ranghavav, Bhorasa, Dharampur, Gosa, Narvai, Bhad, Lushala, Navagam, Tukda, Mokar,
Pipliya. Mokarsagar Wetland Complex (previously known as Gosabara) is the name given to
the group of wetlands that includes Medha creek, Kuchhadi, Subhashnagar, Zavar, Kurly I,
Kurly II, Vanana, Dharampur, Gosabara, Bhadarbara, Mokarsagar, Bardasagar and Amipur
of Porbandar district of Gujarat (Map 1).
The wetland is formed by Karli Recharge Reservoir and Karli Tidal Regulator. There
is a combination of Estuary and fresh water habitat. The wetland is dominated by sedges and
other hydrophytic vegetation. It is a lifeline for the community as well as the wetland
dependent biodiversity including both the flora (mangroove, macroalgae, macrophytes) and
fauna (birds, reptiles, insects and mammals).
Map 1: Mokarsagar wetland map showing all surrounding villages
FLORAL BIODIVERSITY SURVEYS FOR BASELINE ASSESSMENT AT TWO WETLANDS IN GUJARAT
4
1.3.2 Khijadiya Wetland
Khijadiya wetland includes Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary as well as the part of Marine
National Park. It lies between 22°30'12.96"N and 70°05'41.20"N to 22°31'38.17"N and
70°11'57.74"N. It is known as safe haven for birdslocated in Jamnagar district of Gujarat,
India. The wetland is unique having both fresh water lakes, salt and freshwater marshlands. It
is spread over an area of 19 square kilometer. Over the years with fresh water of the rain and
river on one side and salt water of the sea on the other side, a unique area was formed
here.On the other side of the bund large creeks flowing from the Gulf of Kutch are located.
These creeks supports mangrooves vegetation mainly of Avicennia marina and other marine
vegetation while on land side of the sanctuary inland vegetation like Acacia nilotica,
Salvadora persica and Prosopis juliflora are found profusely.The sanctuary is located at the
watershed of Ruparel and Kalindri River at the North East coastal region of Jamnagar district
in the Gulf of Kutch (Map 2).
Map 2: Khijadiya Sanctuary map showing all surrounding villages
FLORAL BIODIVERSITY SURVEYS FOR BASELINE ASSESSMENT AT TWO WETLANDS IN GUJARAT
5
2. OBJECTIVES
1. Conduct a detailed desk study on the existing information, based on all possible sources
of information, on the ecological characters and floral biodiversity elements at the two
sites.
2. Detailed methodology and plan for each of the element.
3. Conduct detailed ecological assessment surveys (including diversity and population
studies) on the two wetlands, over key seasons, including the following, but not limited
to:
• All plants- diversity and population, including all plant forms
4. Assess the current threats to the above ecological elements assessed, on the two wetlands.
5. Identify the economically important species at the two wetlands, based on current and
potential use of these species by the local community.
6. Identify threatened species, and other species of conservation significance.
7. Identify invasive species of the wetlands, and conduct detailed populations studies of the
most significant species.
8. To the extent possible, document species names in English as well as in local language
9. Present a detailed ecological analysis of the key species interactions and ecological
significance in the wetlands.
FLORAL BIODIVERSITY SURVEYS FOR BASELINE ASSESSMENT AT TWO WETLANDS IN GUJARAT
6
3. METHODOLOGY
3.1 ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT
3.1.1 DIVERSITY SURVEY
The diversity study has been carried out from October 2015 to April 2016 to monitor
the change in the vegetation over a period of time. The GIS map has been prepared before
starting the survey. Based on the GIS mapping the wetland habitat was divided into sixsub-
habitats (Fig. 3&4).
Figure 2: Habitat Classification of Gosabara
Gosabara
wetland
WaterSubmerged
Floating
Wetland vegetation
(incl. aquatic veg.)
Partially submerged
Marshy
Dry Puddle
Salt marsh vegetation
Mangroove
Halophytes
Land vegetation
Prosopis occupied area
Open area excluding Agriculture fields
Bunds
Barren land
Drying/Dried wetland
Sandy beach
Agriculture land
Hedges
Weeds
Cultivated
FLORAL BIODIVERSITY SURVEYS FOR BASELINE ASSESSMENT AT TWO WETLANDS IN GUJARAT
7
Figure 3: Habitat Classification of Khijadiya
The plants collected from various habitats were identified in the lab with the help of
floral keys (Bole and Pathak, 1988; Cook, 1996; Cooke, 1958; Santapau, 1962; Shah
1978).The checklist of collected plantwas prepared according to their habitat and the
information on their family and origin was also added to it.
Khijadiya
wetland
Water
Drying wetland
(Wetland vegetaion)
Partially Submerged
Marshy
Dried weland
(Dry puddle)
Salt marsh vegetation
Halophytes
Mangrooves
Land vegetation
Prosopis occupied area
Open area
Bunds
FLORAL BIODIVERSITY SURVEYS FOR BASELINE ASSESSMENT AT TWO WETLANDS IN GUJARAT
8
3.1.2 PHYTOSOCIOLOGY
Phytosociological analysis was carried out to understand the floristic and vegetation
pattern of the wetlands. The phytosociological database was created for both the wetlands and
the basic structural parameters were computed such as relative frequency, relative dominance
and relative density. Utilizing theses parameters, the importamce value index (IVI) was
calculated for all the species. The tress having basal area more than 15 has been considred for
IVI analysis.
The sample plot of 10 × 10 m2 for trees, 5 × 5 m
2 for shrubs and tree regeneration, and
and 1 × 1 m2for herbs were taken in their respective zones (Vegetation type).
Frequency = No .of Quadates in which species occured
Total Number of quadrates studied × 100
Abundance = Total no .of Individuals of the species in which species occured
No .of quadrates in which species occured
Density = Total No .of individuals of a species in all quadrates
Total no . of quadrates studied
Relative frequency = Frequency of a species
Sum of frequencies of all the species × 100
Relative Density = No .of individuals of a species in all quadrates
No . of individual of all species in all quadrates × 100
Relative Dominance= Total stand basal cover of the species
Total stand basal cover of all the species × 100
Importance Value Index = Relative frequency + Relative density + Relative dominance
Simpson‟s Index (D) = ∑ n(n−1)
N(N−1)
n = the total number of individuals of the species;
N = the total number of individuals of all species
FLORAL BIODIVERSITY SURVEYS FOR BASELINE ASSESSMENT AT TWO WETLANDS IN GUJARAT
9
3.1.3 GIS MAPPING
GIS mapping has been done to calculate the area occupied by various habitats and
vegetation. The methodology adopted for GIS mapping was as follows:
Image acquisition from USGS site
Geometric rectification with the help pf Google Earth map
Subset creation using Boundary
Unsupervised classification
Image recoding
Raster to Vector conversion
Contexual editing
Map finalising and Area statistics
3.1.4 BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF SOIL
The soil samples have been collected from various sites to check the quality of soil
and its impact on vegetation diversity and agriculture.For quality analysis of soilparameters
like total Nitrogen/Organic Carbon, Phosphorous, Potassium, pH and Conductivity has been
taken in to consideration. A total of eight samples were collected for the analysis from
various sites, of which five were from Gosabara and three from Khijadiya. The analysis has
been carried out by the Gujarat State Fertilizer and Chemical Limited, Vadodara, Gujarat.
3.1.5 BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF WATER
For water analysis samplinghas been done from diverse sitesto analyse the water
quality and the vegetation pattern of the area. The biochemical parameters like pH,
Conductivity, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Nitrite and Nitrate
content, Phytoplakton diversity and its density, Chlorophyll and Carotenoids has been taken
in to consideration. Five litres of water sample has been collected in morning hours from
FLORAL BIODIVERSITY SURVEYS FOR BASELINE ASSESSMENT AT TWO WETLANDS IN GUJARAT
10
various sites. The sample analysis has been carried out by the Fisheries Research centre of
Junagadh Agriculture University.
3.2THREAT ASSESMENT
Threat assessment to the biodiversity and ecological parameters has been done during
the survey and by carrying out the interview with the local peoples.
3.3ECONOMICALLY IMPORTANT SPECIES
The economically important species has been identified by interviewing local
communities and the uses of various species have been noted down.Based on the information
given by the people TIV value (Total Importance Value) has been calculated.
Importance value has been derived based on primary uses. The potential uses
considered during the study are forage, Food/nutrition value, Medicine, Fibre, Fodder,
Fuelwood, Timber, Toothbrush, Oil and Gum value. A range of 0-10 points to economic
value for each use was assigned and the total importance value (TIV) (potential importance of
the plant to the local economy) has thus been calculated as below:
TIV % =U1+U2…Un
Number of uses × maximum value×100
Where TIV % is the total importance value and U is the importance value for each particular
use (e.g. timber, fuelwood, fodder, etc.)
3.4 THREATENED SPECIES AND THEIR CONSERVATION SIGNIFICANCE
The IUCN status of all the collected species has been analysed as per the IUCN Red
List version 2.3 and 3.1. (www.iucnredlist.org)
3.5 DOCUMENTATION OF LOCAL AND ENGLISH NAME
The information on local names of the species was gathered from local communities
during the survey. The information on the English name of the plant was taken from available
resources (www.iucnredlist.org, www.cabi.org, www.iucngisd.org).
FLORAL BIODIVERSITY SURVEYS FOR BASELINE ASSESSMENT AT TWO WETLANDS IN GUJARAT
11
4. RESULTS
4.1 ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT
4.1.1 DIVERSITY SURVEY
4.1.1.1 Gosabara
Gosabara wetland, complex comprises of 157 taxa of which 2 are pteridophytes and
155 are angiosperms. Out of 155 species of Angiosperm; 121 are Dicots belonging to 102
genus and 35 are monocots belonging to 33 genus. According to their origin out of121
species of dicotyledons, 1 is endemic, 19 are exotic, and 10 are indigenous.Fabaceae and
Asteraceae are the two dominant families among dicotyledons.Similarly out of the 35
monocots, 31 are indigenous, 2 are exotic and one is endemic, of which Poaceae is the
dominant family (Fig. 4).
Figure 4: Graph showing species diversity at Gosabara wetland complex
FLORAL BIODIVERSITY SURVEYS FOR BASELINE ASSESSMENT AT TWO WETLANDS IN GUJARAT
12
Out of 157 species, recorded from Gosabara wetland complex; 43 are of aquatic subhabitat which is further classified into four micro
habitats. Five species are of submereged habitat with Hydrocharitaceae as dominant family. Four species were partially submerged, six were
floating hydrophytes, 16 were of marshy habitat and 13 were dry puddle species.The salt marsh vegetation is represented by 7 species of salt
loving or salt tolerant plants on saline gorund and the area under the influence of tides. Land vegetation includes plants on the open land area of
wetland which represents 71 species where Prosopis is the main dominant species which is an invasive plant. Agriculture land vegetation
includes the plants growing on the agriculture hedges to the surrounding and adjacent wetland area represented by 18 species.Based on their
habit out of 157 species, 104 were herbs, seven climbing herbs, three twining herbs, one creeping herb, twenty shrubs, two twining shrubs, four
climbing shrubs, six under shrubs, twenty shrubs and ten trees(Table 1).
Table 1: Floristic Diversity of Gosabara
SN Botanical name Family Habit Phenology Origin
Water
Submerged aquatic plants
1. Hydrilla verticillata (L. f.) Royle Hydrocharitaceae Aquatic herb Oct-Jan Indigenous
2. Najas marina L. Hydrocharitaceae Aquatic herb Jan-Apr Indigenous
3. Ottelia alismoides (L.) Pers. Hydrocharitaceae Aquatic herb Oct-Mar Indigenous
4. Stuckenia pectinata (L.) Boerner Potamogetonaceae Aquatic herb Aug-Oct Indigenous
5. Vallisneria natans (Lour.) H. Hara Hydrocharitaceae Aquatic herb Oct-Feb Indigenous
Floating aquatic plants
6. Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms Pontederiaceae Aquatic herb Oct-Dec Exotic
7. Ipomoea aquatica Forssk. Convolvulaceae Twining herb Oct-Dec Indigenous
FLORAL BIODIVERSITY SURVEYS FOR BASELINE ASSESSMENT AT TWO WETLANDS IN GUJARAT
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SN Botanical name Family Habit Phenology Origin
8. Lemna gibba L. Lemnaceea Aquatic herb Sep-Dec Indigenous
9. Limnophyton obtusifolium (L.) Miq. Alismataceae Aquatic herb Sep-Feb Indigenous
10. Nymphaea pubescens Willd. Nymphaeaceae Aquatic herb Oct-Dec Indigenous
11. Nymphaea rubra Roxb. ex Andrews Nymphaeaceae Aquatic herb Oct-Dec Indigenous
Wetland vegetation (incl. aquatic vegetation)
Partially submerged aquatic plants
12. Bolboschoenus maritimus ssp. affinis (Roth.) T. Koyama Cyperaceae Annual Sep-Dec Indigenous
13. Fimbristylis ferruginea (L.) Vahl. Cyperaceae Perennial Sep-Nov Indigenous
14. Phragmites karka (Retz.) Trin. ex Steud. Poaceae Perennial Oct-Feb Indigenous
15. Schoenoplectus subulatus (Vahl) Lye Cyperaceae Perennial Sep-Jan Indigenous
Wetland or marshy plants
16. Ammannia baccifera L. var. baccifera Lythraceae Marshy herb Dec-Feb Indigenous
17. Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell Plantaginaceae Herb Jan-Mar Indigenous
18. Ceratopteris thalictroides (L.) Brongn. Pteridaceae Herb - Indigenous
19. Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. var.Prostrate Asteraceae Herb Aug-Jan Indigenous
20. Echinochloa colona (L.) Link Poaceae Annual Aug-Feb Indigenous
21. Eleocharis geniculata (L.) Roem. & Schult. Cyperaceae Annual Aug-Feb Indigenous
22. Hygrophila schulli (Buch.-Ham.) M. R. Almeida & S. M. Almeida Acanthaceae Herb Sep-Mar Indigenous
23. Marsilea quadrifolia L. Marsileaceae Herb - Indigenous
24. Paspalidium geminatum (Forssk.) Stapf Poaceae Perennial Aug-Nov Indigenous
FLORAL BIODIVERSITY SURVEYS FOR BASELINE ASSESSMENT AT TWO WETLANDS IN GUJARAT
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SN Botanical name Family Habit Phenology Origin
25. Paspalum vaginatum Sw. Poaceae Annual Jul-Nov Indigenous
26. Oxystelma esculentum (L. f.) Sm. Asclepiadaceae Twining herb Aug-Oct Indigenous
27. Typha angustifolia L. Typhaceae Herb Throughout Indigenous
Dry puddle vegetation
28. Chrozophora plicata (Vahl) A. Juss. ex Spreng. Euphorbiaceae Herb July-Oct Indigenous
29. Chrozophora rottleri (Geiseler) A. Juss. ex Spreng. Euphorbiaceae Herb July-Apr Indigenous
30. Coldenia procumbens L. Boraginaceae Herb Throughout Indigenous
31. Commelina benghalensis L. Commelinaceae Herb Aug-Jan Indigenous
32. Dopatrium junceum (Roxb.) Buch.-Ham. ex Benth. Scrophulariaceae Herb Aug-Dec Indigenous
33. Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Euphorbiaceae Herb Throughout Exotic
34. Glinus lotoides L. Aizoaceae Herb Throughout Indigenous
35. Grangea maderaspatana (L.) Poir. Asteraceae Herb Dec-Apr Indigenous
36. Heliotropium curassavicum L. Boraginaceae Herb Throughout Exotic
37. Heliotropium supinum L. Boraginaceae Herb Aug-Apr Indigenous
38. Phyla nodiflora (L.) Greene Verbenaceae Herb Throughout Indigenous
39. Polygonum plebeium R. Br. var.plebeium Polygonaceae Herb Sep-May Indigenous
40. Portulaca quadrifida L. Portulacaceae Herb Throughout Indigenous
41. Merremia emarginata (Burm. f.) Hallier f. Convolvulaceae Creeping herb Aug-Feb Indigenous
42. Mollugo pentaphylla L. Aizoaceae Herb Jul-Dec Indigenous
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SN Botanical name Family Habit Phenology Origin
Mangrooves
43. Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh. Avicenniaceae Tree Feb-Jun Indigenous
Salt marsh vegetation
44. Aeluropus lagopoides (L.) Trin. ex Thwaites Poaceae Perennial Oct-Dec Indigenous
45. Arthrocnemum indicum (Willd.) Moq. Chenopodiaceae Herb Oct-Dec Indigenous
46. Atriplex stocksii (Wight) Boiss. Chenopodiaceae Under shrub Sep-Apr Indigenous
47. Cressa cretica L. Convolvulaceae Herb Throughout Indigenous
48. Salicornia brachiata Roxb. Chenopodiaceae Herb Nov-Feb Indigenous
49. Suaeda fruticosa Forssk. ex J. F. Gmelin Chenopodiaceae Under Shrub Apr-Sep Indigenous
50. Suaeda nudiflora Moq. Chenopodiaceae Herb Apr-Sep Indigenous
Barren land
Sandy beach
51. Convolvulus microphyllus Seiber ex Spreng. Convolvulaceae Herb Aug-Oct Indigenous
52. Cyperus arenarius Retz. Cyperaceae Perennial Jun-Dec Indigenous
53. Halopyrum mucronatum (L.) Stapf. Poaceae Perennial Oct-Dec Indigenous
54. Heliotropium bacciferum Forssk. Boraginaceae Herb Dec-Apr Indigenous
55. Lotus garcinii DC. Fabaceae Herb Apr-Aug Indigenous
56. Polycarpaea spicata Wight & Arn. Caryophyllaceae Herb Oct-Nov Indigenous
57. Pulicaria angustifolia DC. Asteraceae Herb Feb-Aug Indigenous
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SN Botanical name Family Habit Phenology Origin
Land vegetation
Prosopis occupied area
58. Acacia nilotica ssp. indica (Benth.) Brenan Mimosaceae Tree Jul-Oct Indigenous
59. Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC. Mimosaceae Tree Aug-May Exotic
60. Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit. Mimosaceae Tree May-Feb Exotic
61. Wattakaka volubilis (L. f.) Stapf Asclepiadaceae Twining shrub Apr-Feb Indigenous
62. Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers ex Hook. f. & Thomson Menispermaceae Climbing shrub Jan-Aug Indigenous
63. Senna auriculata (L.) Roxb. Caesalpiniaceae Under Shrub Jan-Jul Indigenous
64. Salvadora persica var. indica (Wight) T. A. Rao & Chakraborti Salvadoraceae Tree Nov-Feb Indigenous
Bunds
65. Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet ssp. indicum Malvaceae Shrub Throughout Indigenous
66. Abutilon ramosum (Cav.) Guill. & Perr. Malvaceae Shrub Sep-Oct Indigenous
67. Achyranthes aspera L. var. Aspera Amaranthaceae Herb Throughout Indigenous
68. Aristolochia bracteolata Lam. Aristolochiaceae Herb Jul-Dec Indigenous
69. Azadirachta indica A. Juss. Meliaceae Tree Dec-May Indigenous
70. Barleria prionitis L. ssp. Prionitis Acanthaceae Herb Sep-Mar Indigenous
71. Bergia suffruticosa (Delile) Fenzl Elatinaceae Under shrub Throughout Indigenous
72. Blepharis integrifolia (L. f.) E. Mey. & Drege ex Schinz Acanthaceae Herb Oct-Mar Indigenous
73. Boerhavia chinensis (L.) Rottb. Nyctaginaceae Herb Feb-Dec Indigenous
74. Calotropis gigantea (L.) R. Br. Asclepiadaceae Shrub Throughout Indigenous
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SN Botanical name Family Habit Phenology Origin
75. Calotropis procera (Aiton) R. Br. Asclepiadaceae Shrub Throughout Indigenous
76. Capparis decidua (Forssk.) Edgew. Capparaceae Shrub Feb-Sep Indigenous
77. Cardiospermum halicacabum L. Sapindaceae Climbing herb Jul-Feb Indigenous
78. Clerodendron serratum (L.) Moon Verbenaceae Shrub Jun-Dec Indigenous
79. Clitoria ternetea var. ternetea f.Albiflora Fabaceae Climbing herb Throughout Exotic
80. Clitoria ternetea var. ternetea f.Ternetea Fabaceae Climbing herb Throughout Exotic
81. Cocculus hirsutus (L.) W. Theob. Menispermaceae Climbing shrub Nov-Apr Indigenous
82. Corchorus aestuans L. Tiliaceae Herb Aug-Dec Exotic
83. Corchorus olitorius L. Tiliaceae Herb Aug-Dec Indigenous
84. Corchorus tridens L. Tiliaceae Herb Aug-Dec Indigenous
85. Corchorus trilocularis L. Tiliaceae Herb Jul-Mar Indigenous
86. Ctenolepis cerasiformis (Stocks) Hook. f. Cucurbitaceae Climbing herb Aug-Oct Indigenous
87. Cucumis maderaspatanus L. Cucurbitaceae Climbing herb Jul-Nov Indigenous
88. Cucumis prophetarum L. Cucurbitaceae Climbing herb Jul-Oct Indigenous
89. Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. Poaceae Perennial Throughout Indigenous
90. Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.) Willd. Poaceae Annual Throughout Indigenous
91. Datura metel L. Solanaceae Shrub Throughout Indigenous
92. Dinebra retroflexa (Vahl) Panz. Poaceae Annual Aug-Feb Indigenous
93. Launaea procumbens (Roxb.) Ramayya & Rajagopal Asteraceae Herb Throughout Indigenous
94. Maerua oblongifolia (Forssk.) A. Rich. Capparaceae Climbing shrub Oct-Feb Indigenous
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SN Botanical name Family Habit Phenology Origin
95. Passiflora foetida L. var. foetida Passifloraceae Climbing shrub Aug-Dec Exotic
96. Pavonia ceratocarpa Masters Malvaceae Herb Aug-Oct Indigenous
97. Pentatropis spiralis (Forssk.)Decne. Asclepiadaceae Twining herb Aug-Dec Indigenous
98. Pergularia daemia (Forssk.) Chiov. Asclepiadaceae Twining shrub Oct-Mar Indigenous
99. Peristrophe bicalyculata (Retz.) Nees Acanthaceae Herb Oct-Apr Indigenous
100. Physalis minima L. Solanaceae Herb Jul-Jan Indigenous
101. Rungia elegans Dalzell & A. Gibson Acanthaceae Herb Sep-Mar Endemic
102. Rungia repens (L.) Nees Acanthaceae Herb Aug-Jan Indigenous
103. Senna occidentalis (L.) Link. Caesalpiniaceae Under Shrub Throughout Exotic
104. Setaria pumila (Poir.) Roem. & Schult. Poaceae Annual Jul-Nov Indigenous
105. Sida mysorensis Wight & Arn. Malvaceae Herb Aug-Dec Exotic
Open lands
106. Nothosaerva brachiata (L.) Wight Amaranthaceae Herb Sep-May Indigenous
107. Ocimum americanum L. Lamiaceae Herb Throughout Indigenous
108. Parthenium hysterophorus L. Asteraceae Herb Sep-Mar Exotic
109. Dyerophytum indicum (Gibson ex Wight) Kuntze Plumbaginaceae Shrub Oct-Feb Indigenous
110. Echinops echinatus Roxb. Asteraceae Herb Sep-Jan Indigenous
111. Elytraria acaulis (L. f.) Lindau Acanthaceae Herb Jul-Dec Indigenous
112. Enicostema axillare (Lam.) A. Raynal ssp. axillare Gentianaceae Herb Jul-Nov Indigenous
113. Eragrostis ciliaris (L.) R. Br. Poaceae Annual Oct-Jan Indigenous
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SN Botanical name Family Habit Phenology Origin
114. Euphorbia neriifolia L. Euphorbiaceae Shrub Nov-Apr Indigenous
115. Gossypium stocksii Mast. Malvaceae Shrub Oct-Dec Exotic
116. Grewia tenax (Forssk.) Fiori Tiliaceae Shrub Apr-Sep Indigenous
117. Justicia procumbens L. Acanthaceae Herb Jun-Dec Indigenous
118. Tridax procumbens L. Asteraceae Herb Throughout Exotic
119. Verbascum chinense (L.) Santapau Scrophulariaceae Herb Throughout Indigenous
120. Vernonia cinerea (L.) Less. Asteraceae Herb Throughout Indigenous
121. Commiphora wightii (Arn.) Bhandari Burseraceae Shrub Jan-May Indigenous
122. Celosia argentea L. Amaranthaceae Herb Jul-Dec Indigenous
123. Cenchrus ciliaris L. Poaceae Annual Jul-Jan Indigenous
124. Chloris barbata Sw. Poaceae Perennial Jul-Apr Indigenous
125. Pluchea lanceolata (DC.) C.B.Clarke Asteraceae Herb Jan-Apr Indigenous
126. Tamarix indica Willd. Tamaricaceae Tree Aug-Mar Indigenous
127. Solanum virginianum L. Solanaceae Herb Throughout Indigenous
128. Sporobolus virginicus (L.) Kunth Poaceae Perennial Aug-Dec Indigenous
129. Hyphaene dichotomoma (Wight ex Graham) Furtado Arecaceae Tree Jul-Sep Endemic
130. Indigofera cordifolia B. Heyne ex Roth Fabaceae Herb Throughout Indigenous
131. Indigofera oblongifolia Forssk. Fabaceae Herb Sep-Oct Indigenous
132. Stemodia viscosa Roxb. Scrophulariaceae Herb Oct-May Indigenous
133. Ziziphus nummularia (Burm. f.) Wight. & Arn. var. nummularia Rhamnaceae Shrub Jul-Jan Indigenous
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SN Botanical name Family Habit Phenology Origin
134. Alhagi maurorum Medik. Fabaceae Herb Mar-Apr Indigenous
135. Alternanthera sessilis (L.) R. Br. ex DC. Amaranthaceae Herb Throughout Indigenous
136. Alysicarpus longifolius (Rottler ex Spreng.) Wight & Arn. Fabaceae Herb Sep-Mar Indigenous
137. Argemone mexicana L. Papaveraceae Herb Throughout Exotic
138. Aristida adscensionis L. Poaceae Annual Aug-Jan Indigenous
139. Xanthium indicum J. Koenig ex Roxb. Asteraceae Herb Throughout Indigenous
Agriculture land
Hedges
140. Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. Liliaceae Herb Dec-May Exotic
141. Cordia sinensis Lam. Boraginaceae Tree Apr-Oct Indigenous
142. Cadaba fruticosa (L.) Druce Capparaceae Shrub Dec-Apr Indigenous
143. Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt Cucurbitaceae Climbing herb Throughout Indigenous
144. Opuntia elatior L. Cactaceae Shrub Dec-May Exotic
145. Parkinsonia aculeata L. Caesalpiniaceae Shrub Nov-Mar Exotic
146. Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. var.mauritiana Rhamnaceae Shrub Sep-Feb Indigenous
147. Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) Benth. Mimosaceae Tree Jan-Jul Exotic
148. Lantana camara ssp. aculeata (L.) R. W. Sanders Verbenaceae Shrub Throughout Exotic
149. Taverniera cuneifolia (Roth) Arn. Fabaceae Undershrub Aug-Nov Indigenous
Weeds
150. Asphodelus tenuifolius Cav. Asphodelaceae Herb Dec-Mar Indigenous
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SN Botanical name Family Habit Phenology Origin
151. Cyperus esculentus L. Cyperaceae Annual Jun-Oct Indigenous
152. Corchorus depressus (L.) Vicary Tiliaceae Herb Sep-Oct Indigenous
153. Chenopodium album L. Chenopodiaceae Herb Nov-Apr Indigenous
154. Euphorbia perfoliata Scheutz Euphorbiaceae Herb Sep-Nov Indigenous
155. Medicago sativa L. Fabaceae Herb Throughout Exotic
156. Sesbania bispinosa (Jacq.) W.Wight Fabaceae Shrub Jul-Mar Indigenous
157. Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr. Fabaceae Shrub Aug-Dec Indigenous
There are 14 species which are cultivated in the interzonal wetland area of Gosabara that includes 7 dicots and 7 monocots(Table 2). The
cultivated species have been not incorporated in the list of wild species diversity (Table 2). These cultivated species covers majior part of
Agriculture habitat.
Table 2: Agricultural crops of Gosabara
SN Crops Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 Site 4 Site 5 Site 6 Site 7
1. Pennissetum glaucum (Bajro) 0 1 0 1 1 1 1
2. Daucus carota (Carrot) 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
3. Ricinus communis (Castor) 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
4. Cocos nucifera (Coconut) 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
5. Gossypium herbaceum (Cotton) 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
6. Coriander sativum(Dhaniya) 1 1 0 1 1 1 1
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SN Crops Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 Site 4 Site 5 Site 6 Site 7
7. Medicago sativa (Gadab) 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
8. Arachis hypogaea(Ground nut) 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
9. Cuminum cyminum(Jeeru) 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
10. Sorghum bicolour (Juwar) 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
11. Raphanus sativus (Muli) 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
12. Solanum lycopersicum(Tomato) 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
13. Triticum aestivum (Wheat) 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
14. Zea mays (Maize) 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
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4.1.1.2 Khijadiya
From Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary total 86 plant taxa were documented during current
field assessment of which 85 are angiosperms and one was Pteridophyte. Out of 85
Angiosperm species69 were dicotsbelonging to 61 genus and 17 were monocots belonging to
17 genus. Out ofthe 69 dicots, 60 are of indigenous origin and 9 are exotic with
Chenopodiaceae and Asteraceae as dominant family.Similarly out of 17 species ofmonocots,
15 are ofindigenous origin and 2 are exotic with poaceae as domiant family (Figure 5).
Figure 5: Graph showing species diversity at Khijadiya Sanctuary
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Out of 86 recorded species, 21 are of aquatic sub habitat which is further classified in to four micro habitats. Three species were partially
submerged, six were of marshy habitat and twelve were dry puddle of habitat. The salt marsh vegetation is represented by 15 species of salt
tolerant plants on saline gorund and the area under the influence of tides. Land vegetation includes plants on the open land area of wetland which
represents 50 species where the Prosopis is main invasive species in whole sanctuary area. Based on their habit, out of 86 speceis 51 were herbs,
two climbing herbs, one creeping herb, one twining herb, two climbing shrub, three under shrub, twelve shrubs and eleven trees (Table 3).
Table 3: Floristic Diversity of Khijadiya
SN Botanical name Family Habit Phenology Origin
Drying wetland
Partially submerged aquatic plants
1. Bolboschoenus maritimus ssp. affinis (Roth.) T. Koyama Cyperaceae Annual Sep-Dec Indigenous
2. Phragmites karka (Retz.) Trin. ex Steud. Poaceae Perennial Oct-Feb Indigenous
3. Schoenoplectus subulatus (Vahl) Lye Cyperaceae Perennial Sep-Jan Indigenous
Wetland or marshy plants
4. Ammannia baccifera L. var. Baccifera Lythraceae Marshy herb Dec-Feb Indigenous
5. Echinochloa colona (L.) Link Poaceae Annual Aug-Feb Indigenous
6. Marsilea quadrifolia L. Marsileaceae Herb Jan-Feb Indigenous
7. Paspalidium geminatum (Forssk.) Stapf Poaceae Perennial Aug-Nov Indigenous
8. Phyla nodiflora (L.) Greene Verbenaceae Herb Throughout Indigenous
9. Polygonum plebeium R. Br. var. plebeium Polygonaceae Herb Sep-May Indigenous
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SN Botanical name Family Habit Phenology Origin
Dried wetland
10. Chrozophora plicata (Vahl) A. Juss. ex Spreng. Euphorbiaceae Herb July-Oct Indigenous
11. Chrozophora rottleri (Geiseler) A. Juss. ex Spreng. Euphorbiaceae Herb July-Apr Indigenous
12. Coldenia procumbens L. Boraginaceae Herb Throughout Indigenous
13. Corchorus depressus (L.) Vicary Tiliaceae Herb Sep-Oct Indigenous
14. Dopatrium junceum (Roxb.) Buch.-Ham. ex Benth. Scrophulariaceae Herb Aug-Dec Indigenous
15. Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. var. Prostrate Asteraceae Herb Aug-Jan Indigenous
16. Glinus lotoides L. Aizoaceae Herb Throughout Indigenous
17. Grangea maderaspatana (L.) Poir. Asteraceae Herb Dec-Apr Indigenous
18. Heliotropium curassavicum L. Boraginaceae Herb Throughout Exotic
19. Heliotropium supinum L. Boraginaceae Herb Aug-Apr Indigenous
20. Merremia emarginata (Burm. f.) Hallier f. Convolvulaceae Creeping herb Aug-Feb Indigenous
21. Mollugo pentaphylla L. Aizoaceae Herb Jul-Dec Indigenous
Mangroove
22. Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh. Avicenniaceae Shrub Feb-Jun Indigenous
23. Ceriops tagal (Perr.) C.B. Rob. Rhizophoraceae Small tree Jul-Sep Indigenous
24. Rhizophora mucronata Lam. Rhizophoraceae Small tree Aug-Dec Indigenous
Salt marsh vegetation
25. Aeluropus lagopoides (L.) Trin. ex Thwaites Poaceae Perennial Oct-Dec Indigenous
26. Arthrocnemum indicum (Willd.) Moq. Chenopodiaceae Herb Oct-Dec Indigenous
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SN Botanical name Family Habit Phenology Origin
27. Atriplex stocksii (Wight) Boiss. Chenopodiaceae Under shrub Sep-Apr Indigenous
28. Cressa cretica L. Convolvulaceae Herb Throughout Indigenous
29. Juncus maritimus Lam. Juncaceae Herb Oct-Dec Exotic
30. Polycarpaea spicata Wight & Arn. Caryophyllaceae Herb Oct-Nov Indigenous
31. Salicornia brachiata Roxb. Chenopodiaceae Herb Nov-Feb Indigenous
32. Salvadora persica var. indica (Wight) T. A. Rao &
Chakraborti
Salvadoraceae Tree Nov-Feb Indigenous
33. Sesuvium portulacastrum (L.) L. Aizoaceae Herb Nov-Jan Indigenous
34. Suaeda fruticosaForssk. ex J. F. Gmelin Chenopodiaceae Shrub Apr-Sep Indigenous
35. Suaeda nudiflora Moq. Chenopodiaceae Herb Apr-Sep Indigenous
36. Tamarix stricta Boiss. Tamaricaceae Shrub Feb-Jun` Indigenous
37. Taverniera cuneifolia (Roth) Arn. Fabaceae Under shrub Aug-Nov Indigenous
38. Urochondra setulosa (Trin.) C.E.Hubb. Poaceae Perennial Oct-Jan Indigenous
Land vegetation
Prosopis occupied area
39. Acacia nilotica ssp. indica (Benth.) Brenan Mimosaceae Tree Jul-Oct Indigenous
40. Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC. Mimosaceae Tree Aug-May Exotic
Bunds
41. Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet ssp. indicum Malvaceae Shrub Throughout Indigenous
42. Achyranthes asperaL. var. Aspera Amaranthaceae Herb Throughout Indigenous
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SN Botanical name Family Habit Phenology Origin
43. Alternanthera sessilis (L.) R. Br. ex DC. Amaranthaceae Herb Throughout Indigenous
44. Azadirachta indica A. Juss. Meliaceae Tree Dec-May Indigenous
45. Calotropis procera (Aiton)R. Br. Asclepiadaceae Shrub Throughout Indigenous
46. Corchorus olitorius L. Tiliaceae Herb Aug-Dec Indigenous
47. Corchorus trilocularis L. Tiliaceae Herb Jul-Mar Indigenous
48. Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit. Mimosaceae Tree May-Feb Exotic
49. Parkinsonia aculeata L. Caesalpiniaceae Shrub Nov-Mar Exotic
50. Parthenium hysterophorus L. Asteraceae Herb Sep-Mar Exotic
51. Passiflora foetida L. var. Foetida Passifloraceae Climbing shrub Aug-Dec Exotic
52. Pentatropis spirallis (Forssk.) Decne Asclepiadaceae Twining herb Aug-Dec Indigenous
53. Phoenix sylvestris (L.) Roxb. Arecaceae Tree Jan-Mar Indigenous
54. Physalis minima L. Solanaceae Herb Jul-Jan Indigenous
55. Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) Benth. Mimosaceae Tree Jan-Jul Exotic
56. Pluchea lanceolata (DC.) C.B.Clarke Asteraceae Herb Jan-Apr Indigenous
57. Senna auriculata (L.) Roxb. Caesalpiniaceae Shrub Jan-Jul Indigenous
58. Setaria pumila (Poir.) Roem. & Schult. Poaceae Annual Jul-Nov Indigenous
59. Sporobolus virginicus (L.) Kunth Poaceae Perennial Aug-Dec Indigenous
60. Stemodia viscosa Roxb. Scrophulariaceae Herb Oct-May Indigenous
61. Tamarix indica Willd. Tamaricaceae Tree Aug-Mar Indigenous
62. Vernonia cinerea (L.) Less. Asteraceae Herb Throughout Indigenous
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SN Botanical name Family Habit Phenology Origin
Open land
63. Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. Liliaceae Herb Dec-May Exotic
64. Aristida adscensionis L. Poaceae Annual Aug-Jan Indigenous
65. Capparis decidua (Forssk.) Edgew. Capparaceae Shrub Feb-Sep Indigenous
66. Cenchrus ciliaris L. Poaceae Annual Jul-Jan Indigenous
67. Chenopodium album L. Chenopodiaceae Herb Nov-Apr Indigenous
68. Chloris barbata Sw. Poaceae Perennial Jul-Apr Indigenous
69. Clerodendron phlomoides (L.) Moon Verbenaceae Shrub Jun-Dec Indigenous
70. Clitoria ternetea var. ternetea f. albiflora Fabaceae Climbing herb Throughout Exotic
71. Clitoria ternetea var. ternetea f. ternetea Fabaceae Climbing herb Throughout Exotic
72. Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt Cucurbitaceae Climbing herb Throughout Indigenous
73. Cocculus hirsutus (L.) W. Theob. Menispermaceae Climbing shrub Nov-Apr Indigenous
74. Cordia dichotoma G. Forst. Boraginaceae Tree Jan-Jun Indigenous
75. Ctenolepis cerasiformis (Stocks) Hook. f. Cucurbitaceae Climbing herb Aug-Oct Indigenous
76. Cucumis maderaspatanus L. Cucurbitaceae Climbing herb Jul-Nov Indigenous
77. Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.) Willd. Poaceae Annual Throughout Indigenous
78. Elytraria acaulis (L. f.) Lindau Acanthaceae Herb Jul-Dec Indigenous
79. Enicostema axillare (Lam.) A. Raynal ssp. axillare Gentianaceae Herb Jul-Nov Indigenous
80. Eragrostis ciliaris (L.) R. Br. Poaceae Annual Oct-Jan Indigenous
81. Fagonia schweinfurthii (Hadidi) Hadidi ex Ghafoor Zygophyllaceae Undershrub Oct-Dec Indigenous
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SN Botanical name Family Habit Phenology Origin
82. Indigofera oblongifolia Forssk. Fabaceae Shrub Sep-Oct Indigenous
83. Justicia procumbens L. Acanthaceae Herb Jun-Dec Indigenous
84. Solanum virginianum L. Solanaceae Herb Throughout Indigenous
85. Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. var. mauritiana Rhamnaceae Shrub Sep-Feb Indigenous
86. Zizyphus nummularia (Burm. f.) Wight. & Arn. var.
Nummularia
Rhamnaceae Shrub Jul-Jan Indigenous
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4.1.2 Phytosociology
4.1.2.1. Phytosociologial analysis of Gosabara
In Gosabara wetland complex, ten tree species were recorded during the survey of
which 3 dominant species of tresswere considered for IVI analysisi.e.Prosopis juliflora,
Avicennia marina and Salvadora persica. Prosopis juliflora is the dominant tree species in
Gosabara with maximum IVI value i.e. 198.2. Prosopis is invaded in the open land area of
wetland and the prosopis cover may be increase due to grazing of seeds by the cattles or by in
sufficient rains. During frequency analysis prosopis showed highest frequency count which
indicates even distribution of the species in tree community in almost all the sites of the
wetland complex. A small pocket of Mangrrove near Shubhash Nagar Bridge is mainly
dominated by Avicennia marina with IVI value 57.7 having highest abundance value.
Salvadora persica is salt loving tree and its population size is very small covering small
pockets on bunds. The species has very less IVI value i.e. 43.8 compared to other two tree
species because of its restricted disrtbution (Table 4).
104 Species of herbs were recorded during the survey of which seven dominant
species were considered for IVI analysis.In the herbaceous community; the individuals of all
the species are not evenly distributed. Individuals of some species are wildely spaced while
those of some other species are found in clumps and mats. Schoenoplectus subulatus is the
dominant sedge with maximum IVI value 72.7and highest frequency and density that shows
its even distribution in all the sites of wetland followed by Cressa cretica, Bolboschoenus
maritimus andAeluropus lagopoides with IVI 31.3, 28.3 and 16.1 respectively.The
distribution patterns of individuals of different species indicate their reproductive capacity
and adaptability to the environment. Schoenoplectus is found to be most frequent and
adjustable species for wetland area. Though, species like Suaeda nudiflora, Halopyrum
mucronatum and Salicornia brachiata have IVI value less than 5.5 which states that they
covers minimum area of the wetland and their distribution is restricted to some parts of the
wetland but they were abundantin salinepockets.
The value of Sinmpson index of diversity ranges between 0-1, the greater the value
the greater the sample diversity. In our floral diversity study for Gosabara the Simpson index
of diversity value is 0.78 which indicates comparatively rich diversity of floristic diversity in
Gosabara Wetland complex.
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Table 4: Phytosociological analysis of Gosabara
S.N. Species Frequency
%
Abundance
Density Relative frequency
%
Relative Density
%
Relative
Dominannce %
IVI
Herbs (m-1
)
1. Aeluropus lagopoides 8.5 434 37.01 5.8 10.4 - 16.1
2. Bolboschenous maritimus 22.7 202 46 15.4 12.9 - 28.3
3. Cressa cretica 40 37 15 27.1 4.2 - 31.3
4. Halopyrum mucronatum 3.6 182 6.5 2.4 1.8 - 4.3
5. Heliotropium supinum 2.9 5 0.15 1.9 0.04 - 2.0
6. Aeluropus lagopoides 6.7 49 2.4 4.5 0.5 - 5.1
7. Bolboschenous maritimus 14.3 11 1.5 9.7 0.4 - 10.1
8. Cressa cretica 48.8 289 141.2 33.1 39.6 - 72.7
Trees (ha-1
)
9. Avicennia marina 11.0 26000 2737 10.5 14.0 33.2 57.7
10. Prosopis juliflora 86.0 18955 16228 85.6 83.2 29.4 198.2
11. Salvadora persica 4.0 13727 530 3.85 2.7 37.3 43.8
Regeneration(ha-1
)
12. Prosopis juliflora 85 5 3.9 96.3 99.2 - -
13. Salvadora persica 3 1 0.03 3.7 0.8 - -
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4.1.2.1. Phytosociologial analysis of Khijadiya
From Khijadiya Sanctuary eleven species of trees were recorded of which three dominant species i.e.Prosopis juliflora, Avicennia marina
and Salvadora persica were taken for IVI studies. Prosopis julifora is the most dominant invasive species of the sanctuary spreaded in whole
sanctuary with maximum IVI value of 147.7. The species is also invaded in the water pockets and open land which hinders the growth of other
plants and decrease faunal diversity. A big patch of mangroove was their in the part 1 of the sanctuary which is mainly dominated by Avicennia
marinawith 82.1 IVI value and highest abundance. The species is restricted to the salt marsh area but dominant in that area. Salvadora persica
has sparse distribution and found on bunds and some individuals are found be scattered on some sites with 66.0 IVI value which indicates that
the species is not widely spreaded and also has lowest abundance value (Table 5).
51 species of herbs were recorded of which sevendominant species were taken for IVI analysis. Cressa cretica is the most dominant
species with IVI of 73.2 followed by Aeluropus lagopoides, Schoenoplectus subulatus, Urochondra setulosa, Arthrocnemum indicum,
Chrozophora plicata andGlinus lotoides with their IVI values 30.6, 26.1, 16.0, 15.6, 11.2 and 10.1 respectively.Cressa cretica is having highest
frequency and density followed by Arthrocnemum, Crozophora, Glinus, Schoenoplectus, Urochondra and Aleuropus which indicates the
distribution pattern of this species in the area where cressa is evenly distributed in all the parts of the sanctuary. As Cressa is dry puddle species
and found on the saline grounds; so once the drying of water gets starts the Cressa spreads all over the area being dominant herb in the area.
Small patch of Urochondra was located in association with Arthrocnemumwith less IVI value but the species are abundant in that area due the
restricted distribution with highest abundance value.
Simpson diversity is the measure of diversity. The value of Simpson index of diversity for Khijadiya is 0.76 which indicates
comparatively good floral diversity from the prospective of aquatic pockets.
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Table 5: Phytosociological Analysis of Khijadiya
S.N. Species Frequency
%
Abundance Density Relative frequency
%
Relative Density
%
Relative
Dominance %
IVI
Herbs (m-1
)
1. Aeluropus lagopoides 8.5 265.7 22.6 7.3 23.3 - 30.6
2. Arthrocnemum indicum 16.0 10.5 1.7 13.8 1.7 - 15.6
3. Cressa cretica 51.3 54.6 28.0 44.4 28.8 - 73.2
4. Chrozophora plicata 11.8 8.4 1.0 10.2 1.0 - 11.2
5. Urochondra setulosa 8.5 99.2 8.4 7.3 8.7 - 16.0
6. Glinus lotoides 10.8 6.9 0.7 9.3 0.8 - 10.1
7. Schoenoplectus subulatus 8.8 203.2 17.9 7.6 18.5 - 26.1
Trees (ha-1
)
8. Avicennia marina 30.7 38800 11900 29.2 30.6 22.3 82.1
9. Prosopis juliflora 69.3 36100 25000 66.0 64.4 17.3 147.7
10. Salvadora persica 5.0 7400 400 4.7 0.9 60.4 66.0
Regeneration (ha-1
)
11. Prosopis juliflora 93.3 10 10.2 100.0 93.1 - -
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4.1.3 GIS MAPPING
4.1.3.1 Gosabara
Gosabara wetland complex coveres a total of 129 square kilometre area.GIS maps were
prepared for both the seasons, post monsoon (7th
November 2015) and summer (15th
April
2016). The change in the area of sub habitats of wetland during both the season is given
below (Figure 6, Mapp 3 & 4).
Figure 6: Change in Sub-habitats during Post-monsoon and Summer
GO
SA
BA
RA
WE
TL
AN
D (
12
9 s
q.
km
)
November 2015 April 2016
Water
(56.4 sq. km)
Water
(2.5 sq. km)
Wetland vegetation
(incl. aquatic veg.)
(32.6 sq. km)
Wetland vegetation
(incl. aquatic veg.)
(27.9 sq. km)
Salt marsh vegetation
(7.8 sq. km)
Salt marsh vegetation
(6.9 sq. km)
Land vegetation
(incl. Prosopis)
(11.3 sq. km)
Land vegetation
(incl. Prosopis)
(19.0 sq. km)
Barren land
(14.0 sq. km)
Barren land
(65.4 sq. km)
Agriculture land
(6.9 sq. km)
Agriculture land
(7.3 sq. km)
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Map 3: GIS Map of Gosabara (07/11/2015)
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Map 4: GIS Map of Gosabara (15/04/2016)
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The changes in these sub-habitats during post monsoon and summer are as follows:
Sub-Habitat I (Water): The area covered by the habitat during post monsoon
(November 2015) period was56.4 sq.km.which was gradually reduced to 2.5 sq. km by
summer (April, 2016). In the process of drying the submerged and floating aquatic
vegetation was gradually occupied by dry puddle vegetation (Cressa cretica, Glinus
lotoides, Grangea madraspatensis, Heliotropium curssavicum, Heliotropium supium,
Chrozophora rottleri, Coldenia procumbens, Eleocharis geminatum etc.) and grass
carpets (Cynodon dactylon, Paspalum vaginatum, Sporobolus virginicus, Aeluropus
lagopoides). The change in the vegetation pattern is given in the below text box with
dominant species.
Aquatic pockets were occupied by grass carpet (Cynodon dactylon) during summer near
Tukda Gosa site
Post Monsoon
Nymphaeae, Hydrilla,
Potamegeton, Najas,
Ottelia, Vallisneria
Summer
Cressa, Glinus, Grangea,
Heliotropium, Chrozophora,
Coldenia,Eleocharis,
Cyanodon
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Hydrilla community established at Dharampur and Odadar sites.
Ottelia community established at Virpur site
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Changes in the habitat from aquatic (Stuckenia&Najas) to barren land in Mokar site
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Sub-Habitat II (Wetland vegetation): The area under this sub-habitat during post-
monsoonal period was 32.6 sq. km which gradually reduced to 27.9 sq. km during
summer. Wetland vegetation includes Schoenoplectus, Bolboschoenus and Phragmites on
the edges of water body and during summer this vegetation got dried. Bolboschoenus
was grazed by the cattles.
Bolboschoenus and Schoenoplectus community at Odadar island site
Post Monsoon
Schoenoplectus,
Bolboschoenus,
Phragmites
Summer
Schoenoplectus (dried)
Bolboschoenus(Grazed by
Cattles)
Phragmites(Remained same)
Mangroove vegetation
Avicennia
Mangroove vegetation
Avicennia
(Remained same)
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Change in the habitat from November-April
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Sub-Habitat III (Salt marsh): The area under this pocket was increased owing to drying
of water pocket and increase in salinity due to lowering of water table. The central zone
of Gosabara which was fully merged under water during Post monsoon period gradually
got dried and was later occupied by Salicornia, Suaeda, Arthrocnemum and Cressa.
Suaeda nudiflora community at Keshod (Lushana) site
Post Monsoon
Suaeda, Arthrocnemum,
Aeluropus, Cressa
Summer
Suaeda, Arthrocnemum
(Dried), Aeluropus (Dried),
Cressa, Salicornia
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Change in the habitat from November-April
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Sub-Habitat IV (Barrenland): This habitat was initially 15 sq. km which has gradually
increased to 65 sq. km.This increases is owing to the drying of wetland during the span
four months. The barren land includes the sandy beach area where the vegetational area
is not that much large so in GIS mapping it was considered as barren land but some
vegetational diversity has been found which is given in the below text box.
Halopyrum mucronatum community at the sandy beach of Tukda Gosa site
Post Monsoon
Convolvulus, Halopyrum,
Heliotropium bacciferum,
Lotus, Polycarpaea,
Launaea, Cyperus
Summer
Halopyrum, Heliotropium
bacciferum, Lotus, Cyperus
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Cressa cretica growing on the barren land at Keshod (Lushana) site
Prosopis felled in the periphery of the Gosabara wetland near Bhod site
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Alhagi maurorum community established at Tukda Gosa site
Sub-Habitat V (Agriculture): The agriculture area has reduced from Post monsoon to
Summer owing to lack of fresh water. However the agriculture areas attacts many birds
like Demoiselle crane during the post-harvested period of groundnut and chickpea. There
are other cultivated species such asPennissetum glaucum (Bajro), Daucus carota (Carrot),
Ricinus communis (Castor), Cocos nucifera (Coconut), Gossypium herbaceum (Cotton),
Coriander sativum (Dhaniya), Medicago sativa (Gadab), Arachis hypogaea (Ground nut),
Cuminum cyminum (Jeeru), Sorghum bicolour (Juwar), Raphanus sativus (Muli),
Solanum lycopersicum (Tomato) and Triticum aestivum (Wheat).
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Barren cumin field gradually occupied by Cressa cretica towards Pipaliya site
Demoiselle cranes feeding on groundnut field near Padardi site
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4.1.3.2 Khijadiya
Khijadiya bird sanctuary covers a total of 19 square kilometre area. The GIS map of the
study area was prepared for Post monsoon (7th
November 2015) and summer season. The
site has been divided in to six sub habitats based on the area covered by various habitat or
vegetation (Fig 7, Map 5 & 6).
Figure 7: Change in Sub-habitats during Post-monsoon and summer in Khijadiya
KH
IJA
DIY
A W
ET
LA
ND
(1
9 s
q. k
m)
November 2015 April 2016
Water
(0.2 sq. km)
Water
(0.2 sq. km)
Drying wetland
(1.3 sq. km)
Drying wetland
(1.5 sq. km)
Dried wetland
(7.9 sq. km)
Dried wetland
(7.9 sq. km)
Salt marsh vegetation
(4.6 sq. km)
Salt marsh vegetation
(6.1 sq. km)
Mangrove
(0.5 sq. km)
Mangrove
(1.2 sq. km)
Land vegetation
(incl. Prosopis)
(4.8 sq. km)
Land vegetation
(incl. Prosopis)
(2.3 sq. km)
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Map 5: GIS Map of Khijadiya (07/11/2015)
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Map 6: GIS Map of Khijadiya (15/04/2016)
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Sub habitat 1 – Water: The area covered by water has remained the same. No
aquatic vegetation has been located.
Sub Habitat 2 – Drying Wetland: The area covered by this sub habitat was
increased from 1.3 sq.km. to 1.5 sq.km from post monsoon to monsoon.
Bolboschoenus, Phragmitis and Schoenoplectus have been located from this area
which gradually got dried over a period of time.
Sub Habitat 3 – Dried Wetland: The area covered by dried wetland has remained
the same.
Sub Habitat 4 – Salt Marsh Vegetation:The area under salt marsh was increased
from 4.6 to 6.1 sq.km over a period of time. The species like arthrocnemum and
urochodra has formed the big patches in this area.
Sub Habitat 5 – Mangroove: The mangroove vegetation has also been increased
from 0.5 to 1.2 sq. km. over a period of time.
Sub Habitat 6 – Land Vegetation: Land vegetation includes species located from
open land. Prosopis juliflora is the dominant invasive species of land vegetation.The
area coverd by Prosopisjuliflora and other land vegetation was decreased from 4.8 to
2.3 sq. km due to removal of Prosopis from the site which will help in the restoration
of water during rains (c.f. Map 5 & 6).
The cultivated species such as Pennissetum glaucum (Bajro), Ricinus communis
(Castor), Gossypium herbaceum (Cotton), Coriander sativum (Dhaniya), Arachis
hypogaea (Ground nut), Cuminum cyminum (Jeeru), Sorghum bicolour (Juwar) and
Ziziphus mauritiana (Khat bor) are grown in the surrounding buffer zone of Khizadia.
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4.1.4 BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF SOIL
4.1.4.1 Gosabara
Total Nitrogen/Organic carbon
The soil having good amount of total nitrogen or organic carbon is good for
agriculture practices. So, site 1 and 5 are of good quality for agriculture practicies (Table 6).
Phosphate and Potassium
The phosphate content was low at all the sites and the amount of potassium was
highest in all sites except Dharampur.
pH and Conductivity (EC)
Soil pH affects the soil‟s physical, chemical and biological properties and processes,
as well as plant growth. The nutrition, growth and yields of most crops will decrease where
pH is low and increase as pH rises to an optimum level. Most of the crops grow best if pH is
close to neutral (pH 6 to 7.5). The soil of site 2, 4 and 6 has pH in a range of 6-7.5 which is
good for agricultural practices. EC is high in Site 1, 5 and 6 and medium in site 2 and 3
(Table 6).
At site 1 and 2 Salicornia and Arthrocnemum forms the major and unique vegetation.
Creea is the dominanting and most frequent species at all the areas of Gosabara
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Table 6: Soil analysis of Gosabara
Parameters 1 (Chhaya) 2 (Dharampur) 4 (Tukda Gosa) 5 (Mokar) 6 (Keshod)
Total
Nitrogen/Organic
Carbon (OC)%
0.94 High 0.38 Low 0.63 Medium 0.99 High 0.65 Medium
P2O5,kg/Ac 6.00 Low 6.00 Low 7.00 Low 7.00 Low 7.00 Low
K2O,kg/Ac 283.00 Very high 123.00 High 240.00 Very high 525.00 Very high 395.00 Very high
pH 1:2 8.10 Neutral 7.42 Neutral 7.29 Neutral 7.80 Neutral 7.07 Neutral
EC 1:2 1.90 High
salinity
0.55 Medium
salinity
0.62 Medium
salinity
11.90 Extremely
high-salinity
2.97 Very high-
salinity
Representative
Vegetation
Cressa,
Arthrocnemum,
Salicornia
Bacopa,
Arthrocnemum,
Salicornia
Alhagi, Cynodon,
Sporobolus, Glinus
Cressa, Suaeda,
Heliotropium, Grangea,
Aeluropus
Cressa, Suaeda,
Tamarix, Aeluropus
4.1.4.2 Khijadiya
Table 7 shows that Total Nitrogen/Organic Carbon content was more in Part 1 and 2 of the sanctuary due to the decomposition plant
debris. Phosphate content is low and Potassium is high in all the sites. The soil is vey saline having neutral pH which is not good for agariculture
practices.
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Table 7: Soil analysis of Khijadiya
Parameters 1(Part 1) 2 (Part 2) 3 (Jambuda, Mangroove pocket)
Total Nitrogen/Organic Carbon
(OC)%
0.98 High 1.05 High 0.73 Medium
P2O5,kg/Ac 8.00 Low 6.00 Low 6.00 Low
K2O,kg/Ac 230.00 Very high 275.00 Very high 245.00 Very high
pH 1:2 7.33 Neutral 8.09 Neutral 8.28 Alkali
EC 1:2 17.88 Extremely high-
salinity
17.67 Extremely high-
salinity
4.79 Very high-salinity
Representative Vegetation Glinus, Chrozophora,
Grangea
Cressa, Tamarix, Suaeda Avicennia, Urochondra,
Arthrocnemum
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4.1.5 BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF WATER
4.1.5.1 Gosabara
During the study six collected water samples were analysed for pH, conductivity,
TDS, DO, Nitrite, Nitrate, Phytoplankton density and diversity. The pH and conductivity are
range for all the samples except site 3 were the conductivity is very high because this site site
is nearer to Sea. At site 1 the phytoplankton diversity is highest but density is low dute to
higher amount of nitrate content. More amount of nitrate leads to decrease on phytoplankton
density. At site 4 the TDS is very high due to high amount of salts in the water sample and
because of that the phytoplankton diversity is comparatively less but density is high. The
maximum phytoplankton count was 3400 at site 5 where, the nitrite content is highin
comparision to nitrate. At site 1 the phytoplankton density minimum might be due to the low
dissolved oxygen, and the high amount of Nitrtae. Dissolved Oxygen (DO) content is in a
range at all the site of Gosabara. The water of site 5 and 6 has highest DO and lowest TDS
which is good for drinking purpose. The water of site 4 has comparatively higher
conductivity because it is very close to the sea.
Maximum phytoplankton diversity was found at site 1 and minimum at site 3(Table
8). The species like Chlorella, Spirogyra, Fragilaria, Navicula, Nitzschia and Nostoc are the
important species of phytoplanktons observed during the study period. Chlorella is
considered as economically important species used as protein source in aqua feed.
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Table 8: Water analysis of Gosabara
Sites pH Conductivity
(µs/cm)
TDS
mg/l
DO
mg/l
Nitrite
μmol/l
Nitrate
mg/l
Phytoplankton Phytoplankton density
L-1
1 (Chhaya) 8.5 230 150 2.032 0.037 0.378 17 2750
2 (Dharampur) 8.9 180 110 2.71 0.112 0.278 12 3050
4 (Tukda Gosa) 8.4 300 180 3.613 0.037 0.079 9 3000
5 (Mokar) 8.4 170 110 4.968 0.187 0.038 9 3400
6 (Keshod) 7.5 190 120 3.952 0.112 0.078 9 3100
4.1.5.2 Khijadiya
During the study three water samples were collected from different sites of Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary. Table 9 shows that in Khijadiya the
pH of all the site is in normal range. The conductivity is also in range except site 3 where it is high due to the sea water. TDS is also high in site
3 due to more salt concentration.
Table 9: Water analysis of Khijadiya
Sites pH Conductivity
(µs/cm)
TDS
mg/l
DO
mg/l
Nitrite
μmol/l
Nitrate
(mg/l)
Phytoplankton Phytoplankton
density
1 (Part 1) 7.9 210 130 - - 0.046 10 2000
2 (Part 2) 8.3 130 190 - - 0.156 8 2400
3 (Jambuda, Mangroove pocket) 8.3 330 210 - - 0.188 10 2500
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A total of 11 species of phytoplanktons were identified from Khijadiya. Amphora,
Fragilaria, Navicula, Raphidiopsis and Euglena are the five genera which were located from
all the water samples colllcted from Khijadiya. The maximum phytoplankton count was 2500
at site 3. Over a period of time increase in the phytoplankton count was observed.
Out of three sites 1and 5 have equal species of phytoplanktons and site 2 has
comparatively less species. The species like Fragilaria, Navicula, Nitzschia and Nostoc are
the important species observed during the study period (Table 9).
4.2 THREAT ASSESSMENT
Straying of birds by polythene bags
A line of plastic strips or polythene bags is tied with sticks planted like a flag in the field,
as the flags make noise in the wind and scare away the birds. But, as polythene is a non-
biodegradable product, if they fall to the ground and get buried they could harm the soil.
Thus, farmers should be made aware about the environmental consequences of using plastic.
Agricultural Field of Jeeru (Mokar)
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Algal Blooms
An algal bloom is a rapid increase or accumulation in the population of algae (typically
microscopic) in a water system. Freshwater algal blooms are the result of an excess of
nutrients, particularly some phosphates. The excess of nutrients may originate from fertilizers
that are applied to land for agricultural purposes. They may also originate from household
cleaning products containing phosphorus.Algal blooms have negative impact on the aquatic
diversity of flora and fauna due due to high nutrient content prevailing in the water that
results in toxins over a period of time if the blooms are severe.
Eutrophication: This feature is only observed in saline pockets at the mouth of
Mokarsagar.
Algal blooms (Tukada Gosa, Gosabara,)
Prosopis Invasion
Prosopis is the main invasive species of both the wetlands especially in Khijadiya where
it covers the maximum area of the sanctuary.Prosopis possess deep roots which lead to the
lowering of water table. The growth of Prosopis is very fast and spreads very vigorously
inhibiting the growth of other plants. In Khijadiya the Prosopis is spreaded in such an extent
that it has covered the water pockets also this may lead to the decrease in the diversity of
flora and fauna.
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Prosopis invasion in Khijadiya
SUGGESTION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Pumping of potable water to agriculture fields
Anthropogenic pressure such as the pumping of groundwater for irrigation is a major
threat for the wetland. But actually it is the main available water source for irrigation and
daily use for local community after monsoon. As the area is semi-arid zone and water
scarcity is a major problem. The sustainable use of water is needed.
Pumping of water for irrigation, Gosabara
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Grazing Activity
Cressa and Bolboschoenus are the two main communities which main sources of fodder
for the cattle during post-monsoon period. The drying habitat is later on occupied by the
Shepherd community (Maldharis/Rabaris) to graze their cattle‟s. The cattle community is
dependent on the Cressa, Bolboschoenus and Schoenoplectus as a source of their fodder.
Sedges as a source of fodder (Gosabara)
Camel grazing on Cressa (Gosabara)
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Fishing Activity
Fishing is the major threat to the wetland diversity of Birds and even aquatic plant
diversity. It should not be stopped as it is the main source of income for the locals but it
should be in sustainable way because due to fishing net the birds gets trapped in to the net
and they get died and aquatic plants were also uprooted due to fishing net.
Fishing Activityat Site 1 (Backgound communitySchoenoplectus littoralis)
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4.3 ECONOMICALLY IMPORTANT SPECIES
Economic valuation of 66 plants has been done (Table 10) where the maximum value
is of Acacia nilotica (27.72) and minimum is of Hydrilla verticillata, Ipomoea aquatica,
Schoenoplectus littoralis, Pavonia ceratocarpa and Mollugo pentaphylla (0.11). The gum of
Commiphora wightii and Acacia nilotica is highly demanded and has highest importance
value. Medicago sativa has highest fodder value and largely used by the locals as fodder for
cattles. Gossypium stocksii and Prosopis juliflora has highest importance value as fibre and
fuel wood respectively.
The weland during post monsoon (October) to summer (November) shows a gradual
decline in the population of Bolboschoenus community. This is most preferred fodder for
cattles. With the gradual decrease in water depth, the intrazonal Bolboschoenus community
becomes accessible to cattles as a fodder. As the water dries the fodder source switches from
Bolboschoenus to Aeluropus, Cynodon dactylon, Paspalum. Though Schoenoplectus is not a
preferred grass by cattles but during scarcity they feed upon it, moreover purple moorhen
feeds upon its tubers which are rich source of starch for them.
The Barren land during winter to summer is occupied by Cressa cretica which
becomes a major source of fodder for camel. Tamarix indica is a good fencing plant with
pink flowers. It forms a good road side tree in Khijadiya. The same can be repeated in other
parts of the wetland.
Tamarix indica as a good fencing plant with pink flowers
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Table 10: Species of Economic importance
Sn Species Name Food/Nutrition Medicine Fibre Fodder Fuel wood Fencing Timber Dye Toothbrush Oil Gum TIV
1. Abutilon indicum - 1 1 - - - - - - - - 0.22
2. Acacia nilotica 3 4 - - 8 2 8 - 9 - 8 27.72
3. Achyranthes aspera - 5 - - - - - - - - - 2.75
4. Aeluropus logopoides - - - 7 - - - - - - - 5.39
5. Alhagi pseudalhagi - - 4 - - - - - - - - 1.76
6. Aloe vera 4 5 - - - 4 - - - - - 6.20
7. Ammannia baccifera - 2 - - - - - - - - - 0.44
8. Argemone mexicana - 2 - - - - - - - 1 - 0.50
9. Aristolochia bracteata - 3 - - - - - - - - - 0.99
10. Asphodelus tenuifolius - 2 - - - - - - - - - 0.44
11. Avicennia marina - - - 1 3 - - - - 1 - 0.92
12. Azadirachta indica - 4 - - 5 - - - 8 3 - 11.00
13. Bacopa monnieri - 2 - - - - - - - - - 0.44
14. Barleria prionitis - 2 - - - - - - - - - 0.44
15. Boerhavia chinensis - 5 - - - - - - - - - 2.75
16. Bolboschoenus
maritimus
2 - - 8 - - - - - - - 5.50
17. Cadaba fruticosa - - - - - 3 - - - - - 0.99
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Sn Species Name Food/Nutrition Medicine Fibre Fodder Fuel wood Fencing Timber Dye Toothbrush Oil Gum TIV
18. Calotropis gigantea - 3 - - - 3 - - - - - 1.98
19. Calotropis procera - 2 - - - 2 - - - - - 0.88
20. Capparis decidua 4 2 - - - - - - - - - 1.98
21. Chloris barbata - - - 5 - - - - - - - 2.75
22. Coccinia indica 4 3 - - - - - - - - - 2.70
23. Corchors depressus - 4 1 - - - - - - - - 1.38
24. Commiphora wightii - - - - - - - - 7 - 10 15.90
25. Cressa cretica - 3 - 6 - - - - - - - 4.46
26. Datura metel - 2 - - - - - - - - - 0.44
27. Dicanthium annulatum - - - 9 - - - - - - - 8.91
28. Echinochloa colona 1 - - 2 - - - - - - - 0.50
29. Eclipta prostrata - 3 - - - - - 5 - - - 3.52
30. Enicostemma axillare - 4 - - - - - - - - - 1.76
31. Euphorbia nerrifloia - - - - - 7 - - - - - 5.39
32. Fagonia schweinfurthii - 3 - - - - - - - - - 0.99
33. Fimbristylis ferruginea - - - 2 - - - - - - - 0.44
34. Glinus lotoides - - - 3 - - - - - - - 0.99
35. Gossypium stocksii - - 10 - 1 - - - - 6 - 10.60
36. Grewia tenax 2 - - - 1 - - - - - - 0.50
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Sn Species Name Food/Nutrition Medicine Fibre Fodder Fuel wood Fencing Timber Dye Toothbrush Oil Gum TIV
37. Heliotropium supinum - 1 - 2 - - - - - - - 0.50
38. Hydrilla verticillata - 1 - - - - - - - - - 0.11
39. Indigofera oblongifolia - 1 - 1 - - - 2 3 - - 1.35
40. Ipomoea aquatica 1 - - - - - - - - - - 0.11
41. Lantana camara 1 1 - - - 4 - - - - - 1.32
42. Maerua oblongifolia - - - - - 2 - - - - - 0.44
43. Medicago sativa - 1 - 10 - - - - - - - 6.66
44. Merremia gangeticum - 2 - 1 - - - - - - - 0.50
45. Mollugo pentaphylla - 1 - - - - - - - - - 0.11
46. Mukia maderaspatensis - 2 - - - - - - - - - 0.44
47. Nymphaea pubescens 1 1 - - - - - - - - - 0.22
48. Opuntia elatior 1 - - - - 5 - - - - - 1.98
49. Parkinsonia aculeata 3 4 - - 2 4 - - - - - 4.65
50. Pavonia ceratocarpa 1 - - - - - - - - - - 0.11
51. Paspalidium geminatum 2 - - 6 - - - - - - - 3.52
52. Paspalum
scrobiculatum
3 - - 6 - - - - - - - 4.46
53. Pentatropis capensis 1 2 - - - - - - - - - 0.50
54. Pergularia daemia - 2 - - - - - - - - - 0.44
55. Pithecellobium dulce 9 - - - - - - - - - - 8.91
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Sn Species Name Food/Nutrition Medicine Fibre Fodder Fuel wood Fencing Timber Dye Toothbrush Oil Gum TIV
56. Pluchea lanceolata - 3 - - - - - - - - - 0.99
57. Portulaca quadrifida 4 2 - - - - - - - - - 1.98
58. Prosopis juliflora 2 - - 4 9 3 - - - - 2 8.80
59. Salvadora oleoides 5 2 - - 5 - 7 - 9 - - 17.25
60. Senna auriculata - 2 - - 2 - - - - - - 0.88
61. Senna occidentalis - 2 - - - - - - - - - 0.44
62. Schoenoplectus
subulatus
- - - 1 - - - - - - - 0.11
63. Sporobolus virginicus - - - 4 - - - - - - - 1.76
64. Tamarix indica - - - - 2 - - - - - - 0.44
65. Taverniera cuneifolia - 2 - 1 - - - - - - - 0.50
66. Zizyphus nummularia 5 - - - 1 - - - - - - 1.98
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Plate 1: Purple Moorhen feeding upon Schoenoplectus tubers
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Plate 2: Birds feeding on Aeluropus logopoides
Plate 3: Prosopis for Baya weaver’s nesting
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Plate 4: Prosopis providing shelter to the Birds
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Plate 5: Prosopis providing shelter to the Birds (Green Bea eater)
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4.3.1 Ethno-botany:
Local people (villagers), aged persons and farmers were interviewed and sometimes
taken for excursions at the study area to document the ethnobotany of plants. Farmers of this
region give good weightage for predictions of onset of monsoon because the choice of
cropping pattern depends on that. Villagers have been using the behavior of specific birds,
plants, animals, wind direction (on Akhatrij) as indicators of rain.
1. Avicennia marina (Cheriya) (Resource person: Rama Kara, Virambhai)
Leaves are used as fodder in famine. Dried branches are used as fuel.
2. Alhagi pseudalhagi (Javaso) (Resource person: Virambhai)
Plants are used as fodder during starvation condition. Whole plant is boiled in water
and bathed to cure itching.
3. Argemone mexicana (Darudi) (Resource person: Virambhai)
During fever, make an equal mixture of its seeds with black pepper. Then, take it
twice a day for 2 days with one cup curd.
4. Asphodelus tenuifolius (Dungro) (Resource person: Virambhai, Rama Kara)
During stomach ulcers, half cup leaves juice is given for 2 days.
5. Acacia nilotica (Desi baval, Dataniyo baval) (Resource person: Rama Kara)
Fresh exuding gum is eaten and liked by children. Twigs are used as datun (traditional
tooth brush).
6. Barleria prionitis (Kantasheriyo) (Resource person: Rama Kara)
Paste of the whole plant is mixed with til oil (sesame oil) and heated then applied for
bone fracture in cattle.
7. Calotropis gigantea (Aakdo) (Resource person: Jayendra Chudasama)
A garland of the flowers is offered to Lord Hanuman. Root bark powder is given
during snake bites. Salt is mixed in milky latex and dried to powder form, and applied
during toothache.
8. Pentatropis spiralis (Hudiyo) (Resource person: Nagarjun, Janakbhai)
Leaves are crushed and mixed with cattle feed, to increase milk yield.
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9. Pergularia daemia (Chamardudhli) (Resource person: Nagarjun)
At least ten flowers are taken along with table salt twice a day for treatment of cough.
10. Tridax procumbens (Pardeshi bhangro) (Resource person: Pola Odedra)
Paste of leaves is applied over fresh cuts to check bleeding.
11. Eclipta alba (Kalobhangro) (Resource person: Pola Odedra)
Leaf extract of Eclipta alba and ash of dried Heliotropium supinum mixed with
coconut oil and applied on hairs to remove dandruff.
12. Heliotropium supinum (Ghediyo Okhrad) (Resource person: Nagarjun)
Plant is used as a fodder. Leaf extract of Eclipta alba and ash of dried Heliotropium
supinum mixed with coconut oil and applied on hairs to remove dandruff.
13. Cassia occidentalis (Kasundro) (Resource person: Pola Odedra, Nagarjun)
Fruits considered as a good fodder. During throat infection, half spoon leaf juice is
taken along with honey.
14. Cadaba fruticosa (Kalo katkiyo) (Resource person: Pola Odedra, Nagarjun, Janakbhai)
Grown as fence on agricultural hedges for protection against animals and wind.
15. Capparis decidua (Kerdo) (Resource person: Pola Odedra)
Unripe fruits are used to prepare pickles and ripe fruits are eaten. Grown as fencing
on agricultural hedges against animals.
16. Maerua arenaria (Dholo Katkiyo) (Resource person: Pola Odedra, Nagarjun, Janakbhai)
Grown as fencing on agricultural hedges against animals.
17. Commelina benghalensis (Shishmudiyu) (Resource person: Nagarjun)
To get relief from swelling of eyes, leaf extract is applied over eyes two or three times
a day.
18. Bolboschoenus maritimus (Saaj) (Resource person: Pola Odedra, Nagarjun, Janakbhai)
Good fodder for cattle. Tubers having high starch content are consumed by purple
moorhens and wild soars.
19. Schoenoplectus littoralis subsp. thermalis (Tader)
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The plant is not consumed by any animal or bird. Plants are stacked in compact
bundles and tied to make thatch work of the roof.
20. Clitoria ternetea var. ternetea f. ternetea (Garni) and C. ternetea var. ternetea f. albiflora
(Dholi Gharni) (Resource person: Jayendra Chudasama)
Both blue and white flowers are offered to God in temples.
21. Medicago sativa (Gadab) (Resource person: Rama Kara)
Plants are grown and used as healthy nutritive fodder. Flowering twigs are tied around
the marriage mandap as toran to decorate it in house of bride.
22. Pithecellobium dulce (Goras Ambli) (Resource person: Rama Kara)
The white aril is sweet in taste and eaten fondly by people. Dried stem is used as fuel
and making agricultural implements.
23. Indigofera oblongifolia (Jhil) (Resource person: Rama Kara)
Twigs are used as a broom. Aerial parts are used as a fodder in famine condition.
24. Azadirachta indica (Limdo) (Resource person: Raju Parmar, Nagarjun, Janakbhai, Karsan
Waghela, Darshan Chavda, Deudhabhai, Lakhabhai, Khimjibhai)
If more fruit appears in tree and it remains healthy and ripen than it is sign of good
season for agriculture. Twigs are used as datun (traditional toothbrush). Leaves are
burnt to repel mosquitoes. To confirm whether the snake that had bitten the person
was poisonous or not this plant is used, leaves are chewed by the person and if it is
tasteless than the snake is declared to be poisonous.
25. Prosopis juliflora (Gando baval) (Resource person: Raju Parmar, Nagarjun, Janakbhai,
Karsan Waghela, Darshan Chavda, Deudhabhai, Lakhabhai, Khimjibhai)
Pods are very useful as cattle fodder in adverse condition. Dried branches are used as
fuel. Dry branching is used to prepare fencing surrounding the cropland and also act
as a live fence. The wood is used for coal.
26. Nymphaea pubescens (Nilkamal) (Resource person: Raju Parmar, Nagarjun, Janakbhai,
Karsan, Darshan Chavda, Deudhabhai, Khimjibhai)
Beautiful flowers are offered to God in temples. Seeds are edible and used in various
religious ceremonies.
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27. Cynodon dactylon (Dhrokad) (Resource person: Nagarjun, Janakbhai)
Whole plant is used as fodder. Internodes are chewed.
28. Vernonia cinerea (Sedradi)
Leaf juice is applied on cuts and wounds to check bleeding and as an antiseptic also.
Decoction of whole plant is given in the morning in empty stomach to cure fever.
29. Xanthium strumarium (Gaadariyu) (Resource person: Rama Kara)
During earache apply leaf extract two to three drops in ear.
30. Euphorbia neriifolia (Katara) (Resource person: Rama Kara)
Leaves are sour in taste and rich in Vitamin C content, and are eaten before 12 pm. It
is believed that if there good foliage observed it is sign of good rains.
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4.4 THREATENED SPECIES AND THEIRCONSERVATION SIGNIFICANCE
The below table (Table 11) shows that most of the species collected from both the
wetland sare come under not evaluated or least concern criteria. Commiphora wightii is
Critically Endangered as per A2cd (ver. 3.1). Hyphaene dichotoma is at Lower Risk or Near
Threatened as per ver. 3.1;38 species are Least Concern as per ver. 3.1.1;22 species are Not
Evaluatedas per ver. 3.1.The distribution of Commiphora wightii is restricted to India and
Pakistan. Commiphora wightii and Hyphaene dichotoma are two rare species so their in situ
conservation is needed.
Table 11: IUCN status of the Species
Sn Botanical name IUCN status
1. Commiphora wightii CR A2cd (ver. 3.1)
2. Hyphaene dichotoma LR/NT (ver 2.3)
LEAST CONCERN
3. Alternanthera sessilis LC (ver. 3.1)
4. Ammannia baccifera LC (ver. 3.1)
5. Avicennia marina LC (ver. 3.1)
6. Bacopa monnieri LC (ver. 3.1)
7. Bulboschoenus maritimus ssp. affinis LC (ver. 3.1)
8. Ceratopteris thalictroides LC (ver. 3.1)
9. Ceriops tagal LC (ver. 3.1)
10. Commelina benghalensis LC (ver. 3.1)
11. Cressa cretica LC (ver. 3.1)
12. Cyperus arenarius LC (ver. 3.1)
13. Cyperus esculentus LC (ver. 3.1)
14. Dopatrium junceum LC (ver. 3.1)
15. Echinochloa colona LC (ver. 3.1)
16. Eleocharis geniculata LC (ver. 3.1)
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Sn Botanical name IUCN status
17. Fimbristylis ferruginea LC (ver. 3.1)
18. Grangea maderaspatana LC (ver. 3.1)
19. Hydrilla verticillata LC (ver. 3.1)
20. Hygrophila schulli LC (ver. 3.1)
21. Indigofera oblongifolia LC (ver. 3.1)
22. Ipomoea aquatic LC (ver. 3.1)
23. Lemna gibba LC (ver. 3.1)
24. Limnophyton obtusifolium LC (ver. 3.1)
25. Marsilea quadrifolia LC (ver. 3.1)
26. Merremia emarginata LC (ver. 3.1)
27. Najas marina LC (ver. 3.1)
28. Nymphaea pubescens LC (ver. 3.1)
29. Nymphaea rubra LC (ver. 3.1)
30. Ottelia alismoides LC (ver. 3.1)
31. Paspalidium geminatum LC (ver. 3.1)
32. Paspalum vaginatum LC (ver. 3.1)
33. Phragmites karka LC (ver. 3.1)
34. Phyla nodiflora LC (ver. 3.1)
35. Polygonum plebeium LC (ver. 3.1)
36. Rhizophora mucronata LC (ver. 3.1)
37. Schoenoplectus subulatus LC (ver. 3.1)
38. Sesbania bispinosa LC (ver. 3.1)
39. Stuckenia pectinata LC (ver. 3.1)
40. Typha angustifolia LC (ver. 3.1)
41. Vallisneria natans LC (ver. 3.1)
Data Defficient
42. Eclipta prostrata DD (ver. 3.1)
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Sn Botanical name IUCN status
NOT EVALUATED
43. Abutilon indicum NE
44. Abutilon ramosum NE
45. Acacia nilotica NE
46. Achyranthes aspera NE
47. Aeluropus lagopoides NE
48. Alhagi maurorum NE
49. Aloe vera NE
50. Alysicarpus longifolia NE
51. Argemone Mexicana NE
52. Aristida adscensionis NE
53. Aristolochia bracteata NE
54. Arthrocnemum indicum NE
55. Asphodelus tenuifolius NE
56. Atriplex stocksii NE
57. Azadirachta indica NE
58. Barleria prionitis NE
59. Bergia odorata NE
60. Blepharis integrifolia NE
61. Boerhavia chinensis NE
62. Cadaba fruticosa NE
63. Calotropis gigantean NE
64. Calotropis procera NE
65. Capparis deciduas NE
66. Cardiospermum halicacabum NE
67. Celosia argentea NE
68. Cenchrus ciliaris NE
69. Chenopodium album NE
70. Chloris barbata NE
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Sn Botanical name IUCN status
71. Chrozophora plicata NE
72. Chrozophora rottleri NE
73. Clerodendron serratum NE
74. Clitoria ternetea var. ternetea f.albiflora NE
75. Clitoria ternetea var. ternetea f.ternetea NE
76. Coccinia grandis NE
77. Cocculus hirsutus NE
78. Coldenia procumbens NE
79. Convolvulus microphyllus NE
80. Corchorus aestuans NE
81. Corchorus depressus NE
82. Corchorus olitorius NE
83. Corchorus tridens NE
84. Corchorus trilocularis NE
85. Cordia dichotoma NE
86. Cordia sinensis NE
87. Ctenolepis cerasiformis NE
88. Cucumis maderaspatanus NE
89. Cucumis prophetarum NE
90. Cynodon dactylon NE
91. Dactyloctenium aegyptium NE
92. Datura metel NE
93. Dinebra retroflexa NE
94. Dyerophytum indicum NE
95. Echinops echinatus NE
96. Eichhornia crassipes NE
97. Elytraria acaulis NE
98. Enicostema axillare NE
99. Eragrostis ciliaris NE
100. Euphorbia perfoliata NE
101. Euphorbia prostrate NE
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Sn Botanical name IUCN status
102. Fagonia schweinfurthii NE
103. Glinus lotoides NE
104. Gossypium stocksii NE
105. Grewia tenax NE
106. Halopyrum mucronatum NE
107. Heliotropium bacciferum NE
108. Heliotropium curassavicum NE
109. Heliotropium supinum NE
110. Indigofera cordifolia NE
111. Juncus maritimus NE
112. Justicia procumbens NE
113. Lantana camara ssp. Aculeate NE
114. Launaea procumbens NE
115. Leucaena leucocephala NE
116. Lotus garcinii NE
117. Maerua oblongifolia NE
118. Medicago sativa NE
119. Mollugo pentaphylla NE
120. Nothosaerva brachiata NE
121. Ocimum americanum NE
122. Oxystelma esculentum NE
123. Parkinsonia aculeate NE
124. Parthenium hysterophorus NE
125. Passiflora foetida NE
126. Pavonia ceratocarpa NE
127. Pentatropis capensis NE
128. Pergularia daemia NE
129. Peristrophe bicalyculata NE
130. Phoenix sylvestris NE
131. Physalis minima NE
132. Pithecellobium dulce NE
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Sn Botanical name IUCN status
133. Pluchea lanceolata NE
134. Polycarpaea spicata NE
135. Portulaca quadrifida NE
136. Prosopis juliflora NE
137. Pulicaria angustifolia NE
138. Rungia elegans NE
139. Rungia repens NE
140. Salicornia brachiata NE
141. Salvadora persica NE
142. Senna auriculata NE
143. Senna occidentalis NE
144. Sesbania sesban NE
145. Sesuvium portulacastrum NE
146. Setaria pumila NE
147. Sida mysorensis NE
148. Solanum virginianum NE
149. Sporobolus virginicus NE
150. Stemodia viscose NE
151. Suaeda fruticosa NE
152. Suaeda nudiflora NE
153. Tamarix indica NE
154. Tamarix stricta NE
155. Taverniera cuneifolia NE
156. Tinospora cordifolia NE
157. Tridax procumbens NE
158. Urochondra setulosa NE
159. Verbascum chinense NE
160. Vernonia cinerea NE
161. Wattakaka volubilis NE
162. Xanthium indicum NE
163. Ziziphus mauritiana NE
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Sn Botanical name IUCN status
164. Ziziphus nummularia NE
4.5 INVASIVE SPECIES
As per the Global Invasive Species Database (GISD), Invasive Species Specialist
Group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (http://www.issg.org/database), Prosopis
juliflora, Eichhornia crassipes, Hydrilla verticillata, Ipomoea aquatica are the invasive
species of Gosabara wetland complex.
Prosopis juliflora is the main invasive species and has occupied the maximum area of
Khijadiya bird sanctuary.
1. Prosopis juliflora
Prosopis is the main invasive species of both the wetlands especially in Khijadiya
where it covers the maximum area of the sanctuary.Prosopis species are amongst a range of
invasive woody plants being eradicated due to their noted effect in exploiting soil water and
lowering water tables. Prosopis are phraetophytic and are known to possess very deep roots
which will use subterranean water when no surface water is available. In India, Prosopis has
been blamed by large-scale farmers for the lowering of water tables, while some researchers
suggest that this is due to the increase in the number of boreholes and the amounts of water
being extracted for irrigation by these very same farmers.
Positive impacts on the environment include soil stabilization by the roots and
reduced soil erosion from windbreaks and within plantations, reduced salinity and alkalinity,
and improved soil fertility and soil physical characteristics. Also the presence of P.
juliflora as a readily available source of fuel has drastically reduced the previous over-
exploitation and illegal cutting in protected reserves.
Observing the GIS data of Khijadiya for the month of November 2015 and April
2016, there is a vast change in the P. juliflora canopy. The P. juliflora has been reduced from
4.8 sq. km to 2.3 sq. km. Prosopis is an invasive vigorous plant which is able to establish
itself in post monsoon if there is an inadequate rain. However, if the rains are adequate the
plants get drained in the water for a period of 3-4 months and are not able to establish
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themselves. In addition during post monsoon period the water pockets becomes grazing land.
The Pods (seeds) of Prosopis swallowed by the goats and cattles which breaks the seed
dormancy of the seed and with the first rains the plants germinates and increases its horizon
in the aquatic pocket. In Plate 6 it is clearly seen invasion of Prosopis by grren canopied and
the spots marked with yellow are the areas from where the prosopis was removed by the
Forest department for the storage of water in the next rains. In Gosabara there is no noticible
change in the Prosopis cover during this period.
Plate 6: Prosopis removal from Khijadiya Sanctuary
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2. Eichhornia crassipes
E. crassipes, a native of South America, is a major freshwater weed in most of the
frost-free regions of the world and is generally regarded as the most trouble some aquatic
plant (Holm et al., 1997). It has been widely planted as water ornamental around the world
because of its striking flowers. Wherever it has encountered suitable environmental
conditions it has spread with phenomenal rapidity to form vast monotypic stands in lakes,
rivers and rice paddy fields. Then it adversely affects human activities (fishing, water
transport) and biodiversity. It is impossible to eradicate, and often only an integrated
management strategy, inclusive of biological control, can provide a long-term solution to this
pest.
Plate 7: Eichhornia invasion in Gosabara
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Once it proliferates in a water body, E. crassipes dramatically alters the ecosystem
and often results in environmental degradation and a reduction in bio-diversity. A number of
authors note that in many water bodies and wetland areas, the encroachment of water
hyacinth has reduced or eliminated natural vegetation (Terry, 1996; Kumar and Rohatgi,
1999). The plant may negatively impact some native species of invertebrates, fish, birds and
plants. Presently a patch of E. crassipes is seen in the small pocket of Vanana creek of
Gosabara. Though it is in fresh water pockets on the extreme south of the creek .It may
gradually spread towards the wetern parts and it may lead to eutrophication (Plate 7.)
4.6 DOCUMENTATION OF ENGLISH AND LOCAL NAME
Table12 gives information on local names of 128 plants and English names of 148
plants. The local names prvided here are the names used by the local people of the study area.
Table 12: English and Local name of the species
Sn Botanical name English name Local name
1. Abutilon indicum Indian Mallow Khapat
2. Abutilon ramosum Indian Mallow Dholi khapat
3. Acacia nilotica Gum arabic tree, Egyptian thorn Dataniyo Baval
4. Achyranthes aspera Prickly Chaff Flower, Devil's
Horsewhip
Aghedo
5. Aeluropus lagopoides Mangroove Grass, Rabbit-Foot Khariyu
6. Alhagi pseudalhagi Camel thorn Javaso
7. Aloe vera Aloe, Burn plant Kuvar
8. Alternanthera sessilis Sessile Joyweed, Dwarf
copperleaf
Jal jambvo
9. Alysicarpus longifolia - Ubho samervo
10. Ammannia baccifera Blistering Ammania Jal agiyo
11. Argemone mexicana Mexican prickly poppy Darudi
12. Aristida adscensionis Six-weeks three-awn Uth lampdo
13. Aristolochia bracteata Dutchman's pipe and Pipevine Kidamari
14. Arthrocnemum indicum - Machur, Bholdo
15. Asphodelus tenuifolius Onionweed Dungro
16. Atriplex stocksii Saltbush Adbau palak
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Sn Botanical name English name Local name
17. Avicennia marina Grey mangroove, White
mangroove
Tavariya, Cheriya
18. Azadirachta indica Margossa, Indian Lilac Limdo
19. Bacopa monnieri Indian Pennywort, Water Hyssop Bam, Jal nevri
20. Barleria prionitis Porcupine flower Kantasheriyo
21. Bergia odorata - Lavadiyu
22. Blepharis integrifolia - Utingan
23. Boerhavia chinensis Spreading Hogweed Satodi
24. Bulboschoenus maritimus Sea clubrush Saaj
25. Cadaba fruticosa Capper Brush Teliyo Hemkand
26. Calotropis gigantean Crown flower Moto Aakdo
27. Calotropis procera Milkweed Aakdo
28. Capparis decidua Caper berry Kerdo
29. Cardiospermum halicacabum Balloon plant, Love in a puff Kagdodiyo,
Karodiyo
30. Cenchrus ciliaris African foxtail grass -
31. Ceratopteris thalictroides Floating water fern -
32. Celosia argentea Plumed cockscomb, Silver
cock's comb
Lampdi
33. Ceriops tagal Tagal Mangroove -
34. Chenopodium album White goosefoot, Pigweed -
35. Chloris barbata Swollen Finger Grass, Airport
grass
Mindadiyu Ghas
36. Chrozophora plicata Turnsole Betho okhrad
37. Chrozophora rottleri Dyer's Litmus Suryavirt, Kalo
okhrad
38. Clerodendron serratum Beetle Killer Arni
39. Clitoria ternetea var. ternetea
f. albiflora
Butterfly pea Dholi Gharni
40. Clitoria ternetea var. ternetea
f. ternetea
Blue pea Garni
41. Coccinia grandis West Indian gherkin Kadvi, Ghiloda
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Sn Botanical name English name Local name
42. Cocculus hirsutus Broom Creeper, Ink berry Vevdi
43. Coldenia procumbens Creeping Coldenia Basariyo Okhrad
44. Commelina benghalensis Benghal dayflower, tropical
spiderwort
Shishmudiyu
45. Commiphora wightii Indian bdellium-tree Gugal
46. Convolvulus microphyllus Bindweed, Brain tonic Shankhavali
47. Corchorus aestuans East Indian Mallow Chunch, Jiteli
48. Corchorus depressus Corchorus Bahufali, Jhinki
chunch
49. Corchorus ollitorius Wild jute, Tossa jute Chuchdo, Moti
chunch
50. Corchorus tridens Horn-fruited jute Kadvi chunch
51. Corchorus trilocularis African jute Lambi chunch
52. Cordia dichotoma Indian cherry, Clammy cherry,
Fragrant manjack
Gunda
53. Cordia sinensis Grey leaved saucerberry Gundi
54. Cressa cretica Littoral bind weed Paliyo, Pariyo
55. Ctenolepsis cerasiformis - -
56. Cucumis maderaspatanus Madras pea pumpkin, Rough
bryony
Chanak chibdi
57. Cucumis prophetarum Globe cucumber Kantada indramana
58. Cynodon dactylon Dog's toothgrass, Bahama grass,
Devil's grass, Couch grass
Dhrokad, Dhro
59. Cyperus arenarius Nutsedge -
60. Cyperus esculentus Chufa sedge, Nut grass,
Yellow nutsedge, Tiger
Nut sedge, Earth almond
-
61. Dactyloctenium aegyptium Egyptian crowfoot grass -
62. Datura metel Devil's trumpet Daturo
63. Dinebra retroflexa Viper grass -
64. Dopatrium junceum Rushlike Dopatrium -
65. Dyerophytum indicum - Pavi
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Sn Botanical name English name Local name
66. Echinochloa colona Jungle rice, Awnless barnyard
grass
-
67. Echinops echinatus Indian Globe Thistle Untkato
68. Eclipta prostrata False daisy Kalobhangro
69. Eichhornia crassipes Water Hyacinth -
70. Eleocharis geniculata Bentspikerush, Canada
spikesedge
-
71. Elytraria acaulis Asian Scalystem -
72. Enicostema axillare Indian Gentian Mamejvo
73. Eragrostis ciliaris Lovegrass, Feather lovegrass Marmar ghas
74. Euphorbia perfoliata - -
75. Euphorbia prostrata Prostrate sandmat -
76. Fagonia schweinfurthii Khorasan thorn, Virgin's Mantle,
Virgon's Mantlem
Dhamaso
77. Fimbristylis ferruginea Rusty sedge, West Indian fimbry -
78. Glinus lotoides Lotus sweet juice Mitho Okhrad
79. Gossypium stocksii Wild Cotton tree Kapas, Hirvani
80. Grangea maderaspatana Madras Carpet Jhinki mundi
81. Grewia tenax White cross berry Gangeti, Bajothiyu
82. Halopyrum mucronatum - Dariyai Kasado
83. Heliotropium bacciferum Turnsole -
84. Heliotropium curassavicum - Hathisundho
85. Heliotropium supinum Dwarf Heliotrope Ghediyo Okhrad
86. Hydrilla verticillata Esthwaite Waterweed -
87. Hygrophila schulli Temple plant, Marsh Barbel Sarpat
88. Hyphaene dichotomoma Doum palm, Gingerbread tree Ravantaad,
Hokataad
89. Indigofera cordifolia Heart-Leaf Indigo Dadiyo
90. Indigofera oblongifolia Common Indigo Jhil
91. Ipomoea aquatica Chinese spinach, Chinese
Watercress
Nala ni bhaji
92. Juncus maritimus Seaside rush -
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Sn Botanical name English name Local name
93. Justicia procumbens Water willow, Shrimp plant Khetrau Khadsaliyo
94. Lantana camara ssp.
aculeata
Wild-sage, Red-sage Abhagan
95. Launaea procumbens Creeping Launaea Bhopatri
96. Lemna gibba Swollen duckweed -
97. Leucaena leucocephala White leadtree, Jumbay, River
tamarind
Su babul
98. Limnophyton obtusifolium Blunt Arrowhead -
99. Lotus garcinii Bird's-foot trefoil Moto Bhakho
100. Maerua oblongifolia Desert Maerua Dudhiyo Hemkand
101. Marsilea quadrifolia Four leaf clover -
102. Medicago sativa Alfalfa Gadab
103. Merremia emarginata Kidney leaf morning glory Undarkani
104. Mollugo pentaphylla Five Leaved Carpetweed -
105. Najas marina Spiny naiad -
106. Nothosaerva brachiata Minute Amaranth -
107. Nymphaea pubescens Hairy water lily Dholo kamal
108. Nymphaea rubra Pink water-lily Lal kamal
109. Ocimum americanum Great basil, Saint-Joseph's-wort Ram tulsi
110. Ottelia alismoides Duck-Lettuce, Waterplantain
Ottelia
-
111. Oxystelma esculentum Rosy Milkweed Vine Narot, Jaldudhi
112. Parkinsonia aculeata Jerusalem thorn, Jelly bean tree Ram baval, Til
baval
113. Parthenium hysterophorus Congress weed , Carrot grass -
114. Paspalidium geminatum Egyptian panicgrass -
115. Paspalum vaginatum Cow grass, Rice grass,
Ditch millet
Jungli Kodri
116. Passiflora foetida Wild maracuja, Bush passion
fruit, Stinking passionflower
Krishna kamal
117. Pavonia ceratocarpa Sour swamp mallow Khatichaas
118. Pentatropis capensis - Hudiyo
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Sn Botanical name English name Local name
119. Pergularia daemia Trellis-vine Chamardudhli
120. Peristrophe bicalyculata Panicled Foldwing Kali Aghedi
121. Phoenix sylvestris Silver Date Palm Khajuri
122. Phragmites karka Tall reed Nayri, Nali
123. Phyla nodiflora Turkey tangle fogfruit Ratvelio
124. Physalis minima Native gooseberry, Wild cape
gooseberry, Pygmy
groundcherry
Parpopti, Popti
125. Pithecellobium dulce Monkeypod Goras Ambli
126. Pluchea lanceolata Rasna Rashna
127. Polycarpaea spicata - Vajradanti
128. Polygonum plebeium Common knotweed Jhinko okhrad
129. Portulaca quadrifida Chickenweed Luni
130. Prosopis juliflora Mesquite Gando baval
131. Pulicaria angustifolia - Shishoriya
132. Rhizophora mucronata Loop-root mangroove,
Red mangroove,
Asiatic mangroove
-
133. Rungia elegans - Dungri Khadsaliyo
134. Rungia repens Creeping Rungia Moto Khadsaliyo
135. Salicornia brachiata Slender glasswort Machul
136. Salvadora persica Arak, Meswak,Peelu,
Toothbrush tree
Jaar, Piludi
137. Schoenoplectus subulatus Common Club-rush Tader
138. Senna auriculata Tanner's Cassia Aavad
139. Senna occidentalis Coffee Senna, Stinking Weed Kasundro
140. Sesbania bispinosa Prickly Sesban Ikad
141. Sesbania sesban Common sesban, Egyptian
rattlepod, Egyptian riverhemp
Jayanti
142. Sesuvium portulacastrum Shoreline seapurslane -
143. Setaria pumila Yellow foxtail, Pigeon grass,
Cattail grass
Kalot
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Sn Botanical name English name Local name
144. Sida mysorensis Mysore fanpetals -
145. Solanum virginianum Thorny Nightshade, Yellow
Berried Nightshade
Bhoy ringani
146. Sporobolus virginicus Seashore dropseed -
147. Stemodia viscosa Sticky Blue Rod Nukachuni
148. Stuckenia pectinata Sago pondweed -
149. Suaeda fruticosa Shrubby Seablite Moras
150. Suaeda nudiflora - Lano
151. Tamarix indica Salt cedar Prans, Jhav
152. Tamarix stricta - -
153. Taverniera cuneifolia East-indian Moneywort Jethimadh
154. Tinospora cordifolia Heart-leaved moonseed Gado
155. Tridax procumbens Mexican Daisy, Coat Buttons Pardeshi bhangro
156. Typha angustifolia Narrowleaf cattail Gha bajariyu
157. Urochondra setulosa - -
158. Vallisneria natans Eelgrass, Tape grass Jal sarpoliya
159. Verbascum chinense Common mullein Kalhar
160. Vernonia cinerea Ash colored fleabane Sahdevi
161. Wattakaka volubilis Sneeze Wort, Cotton milk plant Moti dodi
162. Xanthium indicum Rough cocklebur Gaadariyu
163. Zizyphusmauritiana Chinese date, Indian plum, Regi
pandu, Indian jujube
Bordi
164. Zizyphus nummularia Wild jujube Chaniya bor, Adbau
bordi
4.9 KEY SPECIES INTERACTIONS AND ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE
1. Ceratopteris thalictroides
This species forms one of the important constituents of floating vegetation generally
in fresh water expanses and aids in providing food and shelter to the mosquito larvae. It
propagates not only by its spores which when burst out spread over in tanks and when
FLORAL BIODIVERSITY SURVEYS FOR BASELINE ASSESSMENT AT TWO WETLANDS IN GUJARAT
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stranded in mud develop under suitable conditions into new plants. Vegetative reproduction
takes place by means of buds borne on frond.
2. Hydrilla verticillata
It grows both from seed and from the detached stolons and also from the winter buds.
The male flowers get detached and rise to the surface. They float and may ultimately thus
reach the female organs. It is one of the most dominant species of the Hydrocharid formation.
It spreads rapidly and frequently chokes up an expanse of water, thus becoming a pest of
freshwater reservoirs. The plant harbours a large number of epiphytic algae which are a
favourite food for the mosquito larvre. It is harmful to the self purificatory action of water by
checking the development of the microplankton.
3. Ottelia alismoides
This species grows along with and sometimes at about the same depth as Vallisneria.
It is less abundant than Vallisneria; however, tolerates water shallower than Vallisneria.
4. Vallisneria natans
This plant tends to keep water pockets in a healthy condition by diffusion of Oxygen.
It helps to sustain the microplankton flora and, therefore, self-purificatory action of water in a
tank.
5. Phragmites karka
In Khijadiya sanctuary part-2, it is found to grow along the dried wetland periphery
where they form a dense mass of pure association. It may be used as a good material for
manufacture of paper.The stems of the stouter ones are used for thatching purposes. This
gregarious grass provides suitable habitat for insect larvae.
6. Ipomoea aquatica:
The plant is frequently found floating alongthe edges of Gosabara wetland, sometimes
spreads over the surface and by its long rope like stems soon forms a network of vegetation
choking up the surface of water. The juice of the leaves is taken as medicine which acts as
mild purgative and is supposed to purify blood.
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7. Eichhornia crassipes
The life history of this plant under different ecological conditions indicates its
exceptional vital powers. The seedlings germinate in the rains from June to July and under
suitable conditions may develop into a full-fledged plant within the course of three or four
months bearing flowers in September or October. Abundant vegetative growth is mainly
responsible for its rapid propagation although seeds are by no means less active agent than
vegetative growth in continuing its progeny. Production of seeds in nature thus further
complicates the question of eradication of this pest.
Danger of economic paralysis due to the existence of this plant in huge masses in the
water areas need not be emphasized, as we believe that such a stage in the history of the
eradication of this pest is long over. Various methods of destroying the pest have been
attempted without tangible results.
8. Lemna gibba
Lemnas are composed of flat little green fronds producing similar fronds of second
order and have extremely reduced type of inflorescences. The nature of the fronds of Lemna
has been variously interpreted but the most accepted view is that the distal end of the frond is
foliar while the proximal end is axile. The fronds develop air chambers. The roots of the
Lemna are the heavier part and the tips with rootcaps evidently the heaviest. The roots are
supposed to maintain the equilibrium of the plants. The plants are found floating in crowded
masses forming a pure association on the surface of water as a thick screen of vegetation.
They appear during the rains, fructify in autumn, germinate in summer and after passing a
dormant stage in winter reappear in the rains as floating mass on the surface of stagnant
waters.
Lemnas purify the water by absorbing organic materials and harbouring animal life.
Mosquito larvre are sometimes rare in such wetlands with surface screen of Lemnas. But this
may be due either to dearth of accommodation for the larvae due to the plants choking up
every inch of space of the surface water or to the scarcity of food materials or to the presence
of the animals feeding on the larvae immediately after hatching. It has been observed that
edible fishes devour Lemnas in their young stages and in consideration of the quantity eaten
up by them Lemnas appear to be one of their favourite foods in their early stage of life.
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Plate 8: Dry puddle species of Khijadiya wetland
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Plate 9: Mangrooves of Khijadiya
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Plate 10: Saline ground Species
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Plate 11: Floating aquatic plants
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Plate 12: Climbers
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Plate 13: Submerged and Partially Submerged plants
About the StudyThe study is part of the overall scientific and technical studies in Gujarat that the CMPA project supported towards effective and sustainable management of coastal and marine protected areas. The detailed ecological assessment focussed at documenting species diversity and population over key seasons; apart from documenting key threats to the wetlands, identification of invasive species, threatened species and an ecological analysis of the key species interactions.
The CMPA ProjectThe Project “Conservation and Sustainable Management of Coastal and Marine Protected Areas” (CMPA)is a project of the Indo-German technical cooperation. It is funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) and implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India, and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of BMUB.
Established to support the achievement of the Aichi targets of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Project’s overall goal is to contribute to conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in selected areas along the coast of India. Taking into consideration the economic importance of the coastal zone for large segments of the population, the Project’s approach is people-centered, thus ensuring the support for conservation by those depending on coastal ecosystems.
31C
MPA
Tec
hnic
al R
epor
t Ser
ies
Floral Biodiversity Surveys for Baseline Assessment at
Khijadiya Wildlife Sanctuaryand Gosabara Wetland
Complex in Gujarat
August 2016
Indo-German Biodiversity ProgrammeConservation and Sustainable Management of Coastal and Marine Protected Areas